Objective: To provide clinician direction that is based on the best evidence available on suctioning at the perineum for infants born with meconium stained amniotic fluid.
Evidence: The Medline database was searched for articles published in English from 2000 to 2008 on the topic of management of meconium at birth.
Values: The recommendation was made according to guidelines developed by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
Recommendation: It is recommended that institutions adopt a policy indicating that non-suctioning is as safe as routine suctioning at the perineum for infants born with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. (IA).