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Natural Newborn Baby Advice: Olive Oil and Meconium

31vfcajz7xl_aa280_.jpgMy sister is due to have a baby next week, and I have been trying to think of the best, natural, newborn baby advice. My sister’s labor will be quite different than mine, as both of my children were born at home in water, and she will be giving birth in a hospital. My midwives had prepared a list of things needed for a home birth, and one item on the list was organic olive oil.

I have read many books on natural childbirth, such as Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth and Special Delivery. When I saw olive oil on my midwives’ list, I assumed it was for massaging the perineum to prevent tearing during labor. After my first child was born; however, I discovered the real reason every newborn’s parent should have olive oil on hand.

A newborn baby’s first stools are called meconium. Meconium is a dark, tar-like substance created in the baby’s digestive system in utero from ingesting amniotic fluid, epithelial cells, etc. In fact, the term meconium is derived from the term meconium-arion, meaning “opium-like”, because of its thick, dark appearance.

Meconium is difficult to remove from newborn babies’ bottoms. Diaper wipes and warm soapy wash clothes just smear the substance around. Olive oil is the best substance for removing meconium, and it also leaves a protective barrier on the baby’s bottom, which makes future meconium clean up easier. In fact, some doulas and midwives recommend putting olive oil on the newborn’s bottom before any meconium appears to ease the first diaper change. Some hospitals recommend parents use Vaseline, but it is a petroleum product and not something I would want to put on my children’s skin.

Olive oil is great for baby’s skin! It makes meconium clean up easier and is useful for treating other common infant problems, such as cradle cap. Next time you attend a baby shower, give the gift of olive oil!

Image courtesy of Amazon.com

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Comments

  1. SelimaCat says

    December 14, 2007 at 4:22 am

    Wow. I’d never thought of this, but it’s brilliant!

    Reply
  2. Athena says

    December 14, 2007 at 5:13 am

    Thanks for the info! I too am due next week, am having a home birth, and was wondering why olive oil was on the list. I assumed the same as you 🙂

    Reply
  3. Marco Feindler says

    January 18, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Hi your Artikle Newborn Baby Advice: Olive Oil and Meconium : Eco Child’s Play ist very intresting!

    Reply
  4. Jo Ann Watson says

    April 20, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    Extra Virgin Olive Oil is great for redness and severe diaper rash! My grandson could not be cured of diaper rash with any of the over the counter ointments you can get for babies; Desitin, A&D, etc. He was ready to start breaking open and bleeding. I kept him one night for my daughter. I gave him a good bath and dried him good and applied the Extra Virgin Olive Oil liberally on his bottom and put him to bed. He got up the next morning without any redness whatsoever! When my daughter returned to get him the next day she could not believe what she saw and would not have believed it if she had not seen it with her own eyes she said. Read it in a book of Natural Cures. Is a great remedy!!!!

    Reply
  5. deepa says

    February 17, 2011 at 4:25 am

    great advice, my siblings and I were massaged with olive oil till about six months, and to this day, when I am turning 41, I have not got a single mark or pimple on my face. Olive oil is just great.

    Reply
  6. rua says

    August 18, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    coconut oil does the same job,

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness : Eco Child’s Play says:
    May 12, 2008 at 6:10 am

    […] Natural Newborn Baby Advice: Olive Oil and Meconium […]

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About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

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