Meconium is a lot of different unique waste products building up in the digestive track while the fetus develops. It’s dead cells from the fetuses digestive track and lots of bile which is normally produced in all humans. It’s concentrated.
In fact if it’s diluted it will become green because of the bile. That and dead red blood cells make your normal shit brown.
Not a doctor and this is off the top of my head (master’s in health science) but…
The first poops aren’t black, just really really dark green and transition over the course of a couple days to lighter green and then regular baby poop. The first poops, called meconium, are actually that color because a component of it is bile which is made in the liver. The liver is connected to the GI system to produce bile which normally breaks down fats. It’s also largely composed of mucus produced by the GI tract. The green color from bile is produced as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells that happens in the liver. Oxygen levels in the womb are lower, so the fetus has a higher amount of red blood cells while it’s in the womb to compensate for that. (This breakdown of red blood cells also happens naturally day by day, and will build up). When the baby born and is breathing air, to adjust to the higher oxygen intake, more red blood cells are broken down leading to a more intense color.
The first time I ever changed a diaper was in the hospital just after my daughter was born. I watched YouTube and practiced at home and thought I was prepared. I wasn’t.
Friends at work would joke about the “Poocano” or the “Poonami” but I wasn’t prepared for the merconium and the incredible stickiness and tar like texture that shit had. There were not enough wipes in the world that day. Shit was everywhere. When I finally exhausted the supply of wipes it was good enough and wiped my brow of sweat not remembering the stickiness of that first dookie and ended up with crap on my forehead and cheek.
Over the next year I was pooped on, sharted on, and peed on. A wonderful life with great memories that I relive often with my 13 year old who then burst out laughing at my stupidity. Great times! A little off topic but relevant imo!!
Comments
Because they aren’t shitting pure amniotic fluid?
Meconium is a lot of different unique waste products building up in the digestive track while the fetus develops. It’s dead cells from the fetuses digestive track and lots of bile which is normally produced in all humans. It’s concentrated.
In fact if it’s diluted it will become green because of the bile. That and dead red blood cells make your normal shit brown.
Not a doctor and this is off the top of my head (master’s in health science) but…
The first poops aren’t black, just really really dark green and transition over the course of a couple days to lighter green and then regular baby poop. The first poops, called meconium, are actually that color because a component of it is bile which is made in the liver. The liver is connected to the GI system to produce bile which normally breaks down fats. It’s also largely composed of mucus produced by the GI tract. The green color from bile is produced as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells that happens in the liver. Oxygen levels in the womb are lower, so the fetus has a higher amount of red blood cells while it’s in the womb to compensate for that. (This breakdown of red blood cells also happens naturally day by day, and will build up). When the baby born and is breathing air, to adjust to the higher oxygen intake, more red blood cells are broken down leading to a more intense color.
It’s like axel grease/tar. it’s so thick and gross. Pro tip is to put some Vaseline on the butt so it’s easier to wipe off
As a newer parent. I 100% called my wife the first time I changed a black pooped diaper
The first time I ever changed a diaper was in the hospital just after my daughter was born. I watched YouTube and practiced at home and thought I was prepared. I wasn’t.
Friends at work would joke about the “Poocano” or the “Poonami” but I wasn’t prepared for the merconium and the incredible stickiness and tar like texture that shit had. There were not enough wipes in the world that day. Shit was everywhere. When I finally exhausted the supply of wipes it was good enough and wiped my brow of sweat not remembering the stickiness of that first dookie and ended up with crap on my forehead and cheek.
Over the next year I was pooped on, sharted on, and peed on. A wonderful life with great memories that I relive often with my 13 year old who then burst out laughing at my stupidity. Great times! A little off topic but relevant imo!!