Which term is the first stool of a newborn?

• A. Meconium
• B. Vernix
• C. Fontanelle
• D. Caput Succedaneum

Answer: (A)

The first stool of a newborn is meconium. It forms in the fetus from swallowed amniotic fluid and secretions, plus sloughed intestinal cells and bile pigments, giving it a thick, tar-like, dark green–black appearance and a usually odorless or subtle scent. Meconium is sterile and serves as a clue that the baby's digestive tract is present and starting to function. It is typically passed within the first day or two after birth, often within 24–48 hours; delays can indicate GI issues that may need evaluation. After meconium comes transitional stool as digestion begins with feeding, followed by the normal stool pattern.

Vernix is the waxy, white coating on a newborn’s skin, not stool. A fontanelle is the soft spot on the top of the skull where the skull bones haven’t fully fused yet. Caput succedaneum is diffuse scalp swelling from pressure during labor. None of these are stools.