Questions?What Is Meconium Aspiration Syndrome?
Meconium aspiration syndrome occurs when a baby inhales amniotic fluid mixed with meconium during labor or delivery. This can happen before birth or as the baby takes their first breaths.
The thick, tar-like, dark green substance can clog the airways, cause lung inflammation, and reduce oxygen flow throughout the body. In severe cases, it can lead to brain damage, respiratory failure, or death.
MAS is more likely to occur when a baby shows signs of distress before birth, especially if delivery is delayed or not handled properly by the medical team.
Babies born past their due date are at greater risk of passing meconium before or during delivery.
Some babies recover fully with prompt care. Others may face lifelong challenges. Long-term effects of swallowing meconium may include lung damage, developmental delays, or other lasting health issues.
When MAS could have been prevented with better monitoring or faster delivery, families may have legal options. A meconium aspiration syndrome lawyer can investigate what happened and whether negligence played a role.
Taking legal action won’t undo what your baby went through, but it may provide financial support for long-term care. It can also help hold the health care providers accountable.
The Birth Injury Justice Center partners with experienced birth injury attorneys who can help families in all 50 states. Our network of skilled lawyers has recovered over $1 billion for preventable birth injuries like MAS.
Get a free case review now to learn if we may be able to help your family, too.
Causes of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Common causes of meconium aspiration syndrome involve fetal stress that leads a baby to gasp or breathe irregularly while still in the womb.
Certain complications make MAS more likely. For example, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) during labor can cause a baby to gasp and inhale meconium.
- High-risk pregnancies that are not properly monitored
- Infections in the womb that affect the baby’s oxygen supply
- Low oxygen levels that cause the baby to gasp before delivery
- Post-term pregnancies that lead to aging of the placenta
- Prolonged or difficult labor that puts the baby under stress
In many cases, the risk of MAS can be reduced with proper monitoring and timely medical intervention. The presence of meconium in the fluid during labor is a warning sign that should prompt closer monitoring.
When health care providers fail to take appropriate action, the outcome may be more severe than it should have been. These cases may be considered medical malpractice.
Medical Negligence and Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Health care providers are trained to watch for fetal distress, recognize meconium-stained fluid, and act quickly to protect the baby’s breathing and oxygen levels. When they fail to do so, medical negligence may be involved.
- Delaying a necessary C-section after signs of fetal distress
- Failing to clear the baby’s airways after birth
- Ignoring abnormal fetal heart rates during labor
- Mismanaging delivery complications related to oxygen supply
- Not recognizing or responding to meconium in amniotic fluid
If you were told your baby just had a “rough start” and are now left with more questions than answers, you’re not alone.
Our team of labor and delivery nurses can help you understand what may have happened and whether your baby’s condition could have been prevented.
From there, they can guide you toward the next best steps for your family. There’s never any cost to talk with our team.
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Complications of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
When meconium aspiration syndrome isn’t managed properly, the complications can be serious and long-lasting. Some babies may recover fully, but others face ongoing medical needs that change the course of their lives.
- Brain damage from low oxygen levels during or after delivery
- Chronic lung disease that may require long-term breathing support
- Delayed development impacting movement, speech, or learning
- Feeding difficulties that require tubes or therapy
- Hearing or vision problems linked to oxygen loss
- Persistent infections such as pneumonia or sepsis
Additionally, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) can occur alongside meconium aspiration syndrome when oxygen levels remain dangerously low after birth.
These challenges can place a heavy emotional and financial burden on families, especially when they were told everything would be fine.
In some cases, the harm could have been avoided, and families may be eligible to file a meconium aspiration syndrome claim for compensation.
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome Symptoms
Symptoms of meconium aspiration syndrome usually appear right after birth, but in some cases, the signs may be easy to miss.
Parents often aren’t given a full explanation of what happened or what to expect moving forward. Understanding the side effects of a baby swallowing meconium can help you recognize when something may be wrong.
- Bluish skin tone (cyanosis), especially around the lips or face
- Grunting or rapid breathing in the first hours after birth
- Limpness or low muscle tone
- Low Apgar scores at one and five minutes
- Poor feeding or difficulty sucking
- Respiratory distress
- Visible meconium staining on the skin, cord, or fluid
If your baby showed any of these symptoms and you were not given a clear reason why, our team may be able to help you understand what went wrong and whether medical negligence played a role.
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Diagnosing Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Meconium aspiration syndrome may be suspected if a baby is born through meconium-stained fluid and shows signs of breathing problems after birth. A chest X-ray is often used to confirm the diagnosis and check for lung damage.
Additional tests may help rule out other conditions, such as pneumonia or congenital heart defects, and guide treatment decisions.
- Fetal heart monitoring during labor to detect signs of distress
- Stethoscope exam to listen for abnormal breathing sounds
- Laryngoscopy (visual exam of the throat) to check for meconium on the vocal cords
- Chest X-ray to look for patchy or streaky areas in the lungs
- Blood gas analysis to check for low oxygen, high carbon dioxide, or blood acidity
- Blood cultures to detect infection or sepsis
Early diagnosis is critical. If providers miss or delay these steps, babies can suffer serious and preventable complications.
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome Treatment Options
Treatment for MAS depends on the severity of the baby’s symptoms. Some babies need only minor support, while others require intensive care. In all cases, the goal is to keep oxygen levels stable and prevent further complications.
- Antibiotics if infection is suspected or confirmed
- IV fluids and nutritional support if the baby is unable to feed
- Oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation (breathing machine)
- Suctioning the airways immediately after delivery
Sometimes, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used. ECMO is a type of life support that temporarily takes over the work of the lungs, giving them time to rest and heal.
Meconium aspiration syndrome recovery time can range from a few days to several weeks.
In severe MAS, long-term follow-up care may be needed to monitor for developmental delays or chronic breathing problems.
These treatments and therapies can become expensive, especially if the child requires extended NICU care, specialists, or ongoing rehabilitation.
If medical negligence played a role in your child’s condition, money from a meconium aspiration syndrome lawsuit may help cover the cost of treatment and provide long-term financial support for your family.
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome Long-Term Effects
Most babies with MAS recover with proper treatment, but some may face long-term complications that affect their health and development.
The severity often depends on how much thick meconium was inhaled and how long the baby went without enough oxygen.
Even with a promising meconium aspiration syndrome survival rate, some children experience lasting challenges.
The effect of meconium aspiration syndrome can go beyond the first days in the NICU, especially if the condition caused lung damage or oxygen-related brain injury.
- Asthma or chronic breathing problems
- Delayed motor or speech development
- Feeding difficulties or failure to thrive
- Lifelong hearing or vision loss
- Neurological conditions, including cerebral palsy
For some families, these outcomes were avoidable. When a medical team fails to monitor distress, delays delivery, or mismanages care, MAS may become far more dangerous than it should have been.
If your child is now living with long-term effects of MAS and you still don’t know why it happened, our team may be able to help you find answers — and get justice.
Get a free case review to learn what options you may have.
Compensation for Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Raising a child with long-term health problems from MAS can place a significant financial burden on families. Medical bills, therapy, assistive equipment, and lost income can quickly add up, especially if the child needs lifelong care.
If your child’s MAS was caused or worsened by a medical mistake, you may be eligible for financial compensation. MAS settlements can help cover the cost of current and future medical treatment, in-home care, special education services, and more.
Our legal partners secured $5.45 million in Los Angeles for a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy after meconium aspiration and a delayed C-section.
Money from an MAS lawsuit can help families afford round-the-clock care, medical equipment, housing modifications, and more.
Every case is different, and not all families will qualify — but a successful claim can provide the resources needed to support your child’s future.
Get Legal Help for Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
If your child’s meconium aspiration syndrome could have been prevented or was made worse by medical mistakes, you may be eligible to take legal action.
Delays in delivery, failure to respond to fetal distress, or improper care after birth can turn MAS into a lifelong struggle for both the child and their family.
Caring for a child with long-term complications from MAS often requires specialized therapy, equipment, and support well beyond what insurance covers.
The Birth Injury Justice Center works with experienced birth injury lawyers who represent families in all 50 states.
Our legal partners have secured more than $1 billion for families affected by preventable injuries like MAS — and they may be able to help yours, too.
Call (800) 914-1562 right now or fill out our case review form now to find out if legal action could be an option for your family.
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome FAQs
What is meconium aspiration syndrome?
Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a serious lung condition that occurs when a newborn inhales a mixture of meconium (the baby’s first stool) and amniotic fluid around the time of delivery.
This can cause breathing problems, lung inflammation, infection, and low oxygen levels. Babies born past their due date are at greater risk of passing meconium before or during delivery.
Though rare in preterm babies, MAS can still occur if meconium is passed early.
What are the symptoms of meconium aspiration syndrome?
Recognizing the signs of meconium aspiration syndrome early is key to getting a baby the care they need.
Symptoms usually appear immediately after birth and may include:
- Bluish skin (cyanosis)
- Grunting or gasping sounds
- Low Apgar scores
- Meconium-stained fluid or skin
- Poor muscle tone
- Rapid or labored breathing
If your baby showed any of these symptoms after delivery, it may be worth asking whether proper steps were taken to manage the condition.
What is the most common cause of meconium aspiration?
The most common cause of MAS is fetal distress, often due to a lack of oxygen before or during birth. When a baby becomes stressed, they may pass meconium in utero into the amniotic fluid and then inhale it by gasping while still in the womb or during delivery.
If MAS was not properly managed, your child may face long-term complications. In some cases, this lifelong harm is the result of medical malpractice.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 right now or Click to Live Chat to see if we can help you file an MAS claim and pursue the financial support your child may need.
How is meconium aspiration syndrome treated?
Treatment for MAS depends on the severity of the baby’s symptoms.
5 options for treating meconium aspiration syndrome include:
- Suctioning the airways
- Oxygen support
- Antibiotics
- IV fluids
- Mechanical ventilation
In severe cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a temporary life support system, may be used to allow the lungs to rest and heal.
How long do you stay in the NICU with meconium aspiration syndrome?
The length of a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) stay for MAS can range from a few days to several weeks.
Recovery time depends on how much meconium was inhaled, how well the baby responds to treatment, and whether complications such as infection or oxygen deprivation occurred.
Do babies recover from meconium aspiration syndrome?
Many babies with MAS recover fully, especially with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. However, some may experience lasting health issues, like breathing problems or developmental delays, if the condition was severe or not properly managed.
What are the long-term effects of meconium aspiration syndrome?
The effects of meconium aspiration syndrome vary. Some children recover without complications, while others may face lasting health challenges.
Long-term complications of MAS may include:
- Cerebral palsy or other neurological conditions (in rare cases)
- Chronic lung conditions such as asthma
- Developmental or motor delays
- Feeding difficulties
- Hearing or vision problems from oxygen deprivation
- Intestinal inflammation
If your child is experiencing any of these long-term effects, it may be a sign that something went wrong during labor or delivery.
Get a free case review to find out if you could be eligible for money to pay for long-term care.
Can a baby die from swallowing meconium?
Yes, in severe cases, swallowing and inhaling meconium can block the airways and lead to life-threatening breathing problems or oxygen deprivation. MAS can cause serious complications or even death if not recognized and treated quickly.
What is the survival rate of severe meconium aspiration syndrome?
The survival rate for MAS is generally high with prompt medical care. However, in severe cases requiring intensive support such as mechanical ventilation or ECMO, the risk of death or long-term complications increases. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes.
