Meconium is the name given to the green sticky contents of the baby's bowels before birth. It is made up of mucus, dead cells, bile pigment and some of the amniotic fluid which the baby swallows. Under normal circumstances there is little bowel activity before birth, but if the baby is subjected to stress, usually as a result of reduction in the supply of oxygen via the placenta, then the meconium may be expelled into the amniotic fluid. So called meconium staining of the amniotic fluid is a sign of distress in the foetus, and may be an indication for hastening of labour and delivery, or Caesarean section. Rarely the baby may inhale the meconium contaminated amniotic fluid when it takes its first breaths, which can cause respiratory problems.