Dear Kirsten I am going to give my nod to the OB nurses in this case. If I saw a baby at 24 hours, who has not yet passed decent amounts of meconium, I would be asking why. Particularly if jaundice is present. There may be other causes, such as Abo or another blood incompatibility factor, but mec can contribute. I would not use a thermometer or suppository, but I would massage around the baby's anus with my finger and some gentle oil. By holding bub's legs up against his abdo, you can assist the baby's efforts to push it out. If this doesn't work you have to wonder if there could be an obstruction, and watch for meconium ileus. (Animal mothers are often observed to lick their baby's bottoms, and encourage bowel actions that way.)
Early suckling gives the baby colostrum which has a laxative effect. Babies who don't get the colostrum early in their lives may become jaundiced for no other reason than delayed meconium passage. Best wishes from another aussie who spent a considerable time in USA with a green card, and experienced maternity services as a consumer. Joy Johnston -----Original Message----- From: Kirsten Blacker [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 4:11 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Jaundice and meconium HI all, A question for the more phyisiologically minded amongst us. I was caring for a mother-baby the other day. At about 24 hours of age the baby already was looking jaundiced, and had not pooped. The OB nurses I work with seem to think that BECAUSE the baby had not yet passed mec, that was why he was looking jaundiced, which just didn't sit right with me, particularly at 24 hours of age. So they stimulated the rectum with a thermometer, and got a nice cot full of the best black stuff, which made them happy. They told mum t hen that everything should be fine because the baby had pooped now. I reinforced to mum frequent breastfeeding, and also quickly reviewed blood group for ABO incompatability (mum was B+). ANYWAY, my question is, particularly at such an early age was the connection reasonable? The theory seemed to be that the bilirubin was being reabsorbed from the gut and causing jaundice, which doesn't sound 'right' to me. Thoughts, oh wise ones? Kirsten Blacker infliciting her crazy Australian ways on the unsuspecting American public in Minnesota, USA. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
