My baby’s first stool was awful and I struggled to clean her because it was so sticky. Is my baby ill?

The first stool that a baby passes can be quite alarming to new parents. The contents of the bowel are extremely sticky and a greenish black colour. This is meconium and is perfectly natural. It is difficult to clean and may be a good idea to ask for help from the nurse or midwife who can offer you some tips on getting your baby clean. The good news is that the meconium is very soon replaced by a yellow stool which is far less offensive and difficult to clean.

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