how to deal with merconium poop!

beckstyle · April 2012

In class last night my midwife had two interesting suggestions. First, if you plan to use cloth diapers, its better to use disposable ones for the first few days as the merconium is so sticky and hard to clean. The 2nd thing was to use a little bit of natural (almond, macademia or olive) on babys bottom for the first few days so the merconium is easier to clean off and doesn't stick to babys sensitive skin. What do you ladies think?

Germanwife2b · April 2012

You can also just use a little bit of vasaline so that the meconium doesn't stick :-) It is helpful because meconium is some sticky stuff!!

Tash13 · April 2012

We started with cloth after the first 2 weeks because it as easier with the umbilical cord stump and meconium. I'm sure we could have done it with cloth but it was just easier this way and I didn't want to set myself up for frustration with my first child, establishing breastfeeding, baby blues/hormonal craziness and learning how to CD, extra laundry, etc.

pinksweetpea2 · April 2012

The olive oil really works! Just don't forget it even one time. LOL

My MW put some in a peri bottle for me I just kept it with the diapers. I have never used cloth, so I can't comment on that.

WildcatPrincess · April 2012

Germanwife2b:
You can also just use a little bit of vasaline so that the meconium doesn't stick :-) It is helpful because meconium is some sticky stuff!!

This is what one of the "old school" nurses recommended. She said they used to do it all the time.

beckstyle · April 2012

I think someone in class suggested using vaseline too, but the mw said the natural oils were better. But I think the only reason was kuz they are totally natural. But its a good option too!

pixieprincss · April 2012

We CDed from birth. We took some polar fleece, cut it into rectangle-shaped liners and hen laid the liners in the diapers to catch the meconium (no "r"). We threw two of them away, but the rest we ended up washing and they were just fine. I don't think the meconium was a big deal in terms of wiping or washing. The concern was more with staining the diapers, but well...CDs eventually get stained no matter what and usually the sun can bleach them white again.

Vaseline (though if you are CDing for environmental reasons, you may want to chose a non-petroleum product), olive oil, diaper cream, etc. will help the poo not stick, but you do not want those things getting on your diapers and messing with their absorbency. If you go with an oil, you will need a liner (and then you will need to wash the liner separately from your diapers if you go with a cloth liner).

flyer23 · April 2012

We used cloth exclusively from hour one of day one, and had no issues. Meconium stains less than regular EBF poo. In my experience, the people who tell you that meconium causes issues with cloth are people who have never actually used cloth during the meconium phase.

stahlop · April 2012

pinksweetpea2:
The olive oil really works! Just don't forget it even one time. LOL
My MW put some in a peri bottle for me I just kept it with the diapers. I have never used cloth, so I can't comment on that.

This, my MW did the same thing. Total life saver in my opinion. We started cloth diapers after about 3 weeks, enough time for the merconium to pass through, the umbilical cord to fall off and the circumcision to heal.

laurny · April 2012

Have also been told meconium washes out better than BF poo. We didn't start cd's til 6 weeks, he was my first and I just wanted to get in the swing of being a mom, now that I'm expecting #2 I want to cd right away.

tokenhoser · April 2012

Meconium washes out of cloth no problem. I have no idea where the idea that it doesn't came from. It isn't an issue.

Using oil is a good idea - coconut is our go-to butt oil. Vaseline works if you're in the hospital, too. We did disposables in the hospital (that they provided), cloth wipes (that they provided), and switched to our cloth when we got home partway through day 3.

FinallyMrsBMW · April 2012

We used CDs in the hospital and even though it is sticky and nasty, it came out of the CDs fine. We didn't use any special creams, oils, or lotions.

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