Meconium stained amniotic fluid in labour: A comparative study of maternal and foetal outcomes in a tertiary hospital, north-east Nigeria

Abstract

The presence of meconium in Amniotic fluid has been associated with adverse labour outcome affecting both the mother and infant. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of the problem in our Hospital. It was a prospective cohort study, 63 pregnant women who presented at term in active phase of labour with meconium stained amniotic fluid [MSAF] were enrolled as cases. Another 63 pregnant women with clear amniotic fluid [CAF] were taken as control. The first minutes APGAR Scores of babies with MSAF were lower compared with those with CAF (P=0.001). There was increased Caesarean section rate, increased need for resuscitation and more neonatal intensive care admissions in babies with MSAF (p=0.04,0.001, 0.004 respectively. It was concluded that MSAF is associated with adverse labour outcome. Hence Hospitals in our region should be equipped with facilities required to detect and manage MSAF when it occurs.