Question
What Are the Symptoms of Neonatal Aspiration Syndrome?
Answer
Neonatal aspiration syndrome occurs when a newborn excessively ingests amniotic fluid, maternal blood, or vaginal mucus during the birthing process. These fluids may be contaminated with meconium or bacteria, leading to vomiting. This situation stimulates the gastric mucosa, causing excessive secretion of gastric acid and mucus. Most newborns with aspiration syndrome have a history of difficult labor, asphyxia, or prolonged delivery. They usually start vomiting before breastfeeding and are in good overall condition with normal meconium excretion and no obvious abdominal symptoms. Vomiting typically stops 1 to 2 days after swallowing the foreign object.