Kindspech: timing, smell and meaning

What is the child bad luck, is it painful and does it smell unpleasant? We'll clarify that and more here.

In the first time with a baby everything is new, not only for the new parents, but of course also for the newborn. If it only knew mum's stomach before, it now has to get used to the new surroundings. In addition to the many unfamiliar sensory impressions, he also has so-called child bad luck. What might sound scary at first is not at all. We explain what is behind the term here.

This is bad luck

Kindspech, medical meconium, is the name given to the newborn's first stool. It is made up of lanugo hair, skin cells, amniotic fluid, and body secretions. Already during pregnancy from the 13th week (13th week of pregnancy) it begins to collect in the child's intestines. When eliminated, it has a greenish or black color on – so has a resemblance to pitch or tar. The consistency is tough, which means it won't be easy to clean off. In this case, oil helps with gentle cleansing.

When?

Kindspech is eliminated within the first two days after birth. It should be cleared by the fourth day at the latest, otherwise medical advice must be sought, as there may be an intestinal obstruction or constriction in the intestine.

Does childspeak smell?

The meconium is odorless.

Is the baby in pain?

The elimination of the Kindspechs can cause stomach ache in the newborn. Breastfeeding, however, helps the newborn to pass the child's spech, because the first breast milk or first milk (colostrum) that is formed not only supports the baby's immune system, but also has a laxative effect.

Kindspech in the amniotic fluid

It happens that the child spit is excreted before birth and the amniotic fluid turns green as a result. The early elimination can z. This can occur, for example, if the due date has been exceeded or the birth process is long and difficult. The danger: The baby could inhale the green amniotic fluid, which in turn can lead to shortness of breath. But: Such emergencies are rare. Learn more about green amniotic fluid here.

What happens after the meconium?

With the elimination of the child spitting and the ingestion of food, the texture, color and smell of the bowel movements change. The consistency and smell are also highly dependent on whether the baby is being breastfed or bottle-fed. How often a baby has bowel movements also varies from child to child. In the first few weeks, he may have a bowel movement after almost every meal, i.e. several times a day. The child may only have a full diaper every few days thereafter.

The first years of baby are exciting! A lot of questions arise – in the BRIGITTE Community you can exchange ideas with others.