Question
A female infant was born on July 26th and has had frequent bowel movements since then, almost every time after feeding, with intervals of about 1 to 2 hours. The stool is yellowish but loose. Is this normal? If not, what might be the cause, and how should it be handled?
Answer
Newborns typically start to pass meconium within ten hours after birth, which is dark green or blackish in color, thick, and odorless, resembling asphalt used for paving. Meconium is mainly composed of bile, intestinal secretions, desquamated epithelial cells, and amniotic fluid and fetal hair ingested by the fetus in the uterus. It usually passes within two to three days, with about 3 to 5 times a day. If meconium has not been observed within the first 24 hours after birth, it should be suspected that there may be an intestinal malformation causing fecal obstruction, and medical treatment should be sought immediately.