O68: Labour and delivery complicated by fetal stress [distress]

O68.2: Labour and delivery complicated by fetal heart rate anomaly with meconium in amniotic fluid

When the pregnancy begins, the amniotic sac containing the amniotic fluid develops in the womb. The amniotic sac surrounds the child.

A newborn baby's first stool is also known as the meconium. If this stool gets into the amniotic fluid, the amniotic fluid may look green. There is then a risk that the feces will get into the child's lungs. The child may then not breathe well after the birth. Feces from the child in the amniotic fluid also increases the risk that the mother or child will get infected by pathogens.

If the child's heart tones change, the heart may be beating more quickly or slowly than usual. You may also have an irregular heartbeat.

Changed heart tones and feces from the child in the amniotic fluid may be a sign that there is something wrong with the child during the birth.