The colour of amniotic fluid in meconium stained liquor is

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-2nd

Explanation

Meconium is the earliest stool of a mammalian infant. Unlike later feces, meconium is composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus: intestinal epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water.
Meconium is sterile, thick, dark green, and tar-like.
When passed into the amniotic fluid, it stains the normally clear or pale straw-colored fluid green.
The presence of meconium-stained liquor is often considered a sign of fetal distress, as hypoxia can cause increased fetal gut motility and relaxation of the anal sphincter.

Option B: Watery and colorless is the typical appearance of normal amniotic fluid in early pregnancy, not meconium-stained fluid.
Option C: Amniotic fluid is not typically white. Near term, it may be pale straw-colored and contain white flecks of vernix caseosa, but it is not uniformly white.
Option D: A reddish or dark color indicates the presence of blood in the amniotic fluid, not meconium.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Clinical assessment of amniotic fluid color as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Assessing the color of amniotic fluid upon rupture of membranes is a critical nursing responsibility during labor.
Greenish fluid is a warning sign of potential fetal distress, prompting closer fetal monitoring (e.g., continuous cardiotocography) and preparation for potential neonatal resuscitation.
The consistency of meconium (thin vs. thick 'pea soup') is also noted, as thick meconium poses a higher risk for meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) in the newborn.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key terms in the question: 'colour', 'amniotic fluid', and 'meconium stained'.
Recall the definition and composition of meconium. Meconium is the fetus's first stool and is dark green due to bile pigments.
Logically deduce that when dark green meconium mixes with clear or pale amniotic fluid, the resulting color will be greenish.
Evaluate the options. 'Greenish' directly matches this deduction. 'Watery' and 'White' describe variations of normal fluid. 'Reddish' indicates blood. Therefore, 'Greenish' is the only correct answer for meconium staining.

Concept Tested & Keywords

qoP7yqS95q6VDg5cGbXyd

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 53-64

Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-2nd

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.