Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Term Deliveries with Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid

Background and objectives: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is a poor predictor of neonatal outcome. Its presence is a possible sign of fetal distress and is related to poor perinatal outcomes. So, this study aimed to assess the maternal and perinatal outcomes in deliveries complicated by meconium-stained liquor. Methods: A prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Sulaimani Maternity Teaching Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq from May 01, 2022, to May 01, 2023, on 100 pregnant women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid after membrane rupture. The women's clinical data were collected and observed during labor. Then, the maternal and perinatal outcomes in deliveries complicated by meconium-stained liquor were assessed and analyzed statistically. Results: The age of the pregnant women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid was 29.32 ± 6.6 years, and most of them were multiparous (68%), needed artificial membrane rupture (69%), and delivered by caesarean section (57%). Fetal heart rates were abnormal in 48%, which was higher among cases of grade III meconium (68%), and 29% of neonates had respiratory distress syndrome (p=0.001). Most neonates (71%) required admission to the neonate intensive care unit, with grade III meconium accounting for 76% of admission. The incidence of perinatal fetal death was 1.0%. Conclusions: Mode of delivery and fetal outcome were affected by the grades of meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Most patients with grade II meconium underwent caesarean delivery, while most patients with grade III meconium reported fetal heart abnormalities, fetal respiratory distress syndrome, and neonate intensive care unit admission.