Your Baby's Umbilical Cord Stump
How To Care For It (It's Not Hard!)
Caring for the newborn baby's umbilical cord stump is one of the scariest things for new parents.
"Is it supposed to look like that?" "Smell like that?!"
The little stump can cause some confusion on how to care for it. Can my baby bathe before the stump has fallen off? What about the diapers? And so on.
Here is some information to keep in mind when caring for your newborn's stump.
The Umbilical Cord Stump
What You Need to Know
Umbilical Cord Facts
The umbilical cord is the baby's connection to the placenta. In the womb, the placenta provides essential nutrients and oxygen to the baby. The cord is no longer needed once the baby has been delivered.
At birth the cord is clamped to prevent bleeding and cut. Because there are no pain causing nerves in the umbilical cord, this does not hurt your baby at all. The result is the stump that you now see.
When It Will Fall Off
Every newborn is different. Some cord stumps fall off within days of delivery. Others can take up to three weeks to fall off.
The average time that the cord will dry up and fall off is 10 to 15 days.
Be sure that you do not pull on it, even if it looks like it's only hanging on by a thread. Pulling it off can cause bleeding.
How To Care For It
Here are some useful tips on how to care for the umbilical stump:
- Keep the area around the base of the stump clean and dry.
- Avoid giving tub baths until after the stump falls off. Until that time, you can give your baby sponge baths.
- Some doctors recommend swabbing the stump with rubbing alcohol two or three times a day to speed the drying process and keep away any odor.
Many experts, however now promote allowing the stump to dry on its own. A study by Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation in Ontario, Canada in 1998 found that stumps that were left to dry on their own actually fell off two days faster than those rubbed with alcohol. And not even one of the 1800 newborn babies in the study developed an infection, alcohol or not.
- Either way you choose, make sure to allow adequate air circulation by dressing your baby in loose fitting clothing during this time. It is also important to fold down the front of your baby's diaper or use newborn diapers with a cutout for the umbilical cord. This keeps urine away from the site and prevents infection.
- Don't be scared if you find a little bit of blood on your baby's diaper or clothes, a littel bit if bleading is normal.
Signs Of Infection
Umbilical cord infections are not common, but it is good to know the signs just in case.
If your baby develops a fever it may be the sign of an infection of the cord stump. Other signs of infection include a red or swollen area around the base of the stump, yellow or white pus, a foul odor, or if it seems like the area is painful.
Please note though, that being a little red is however usually not a sign of infection, and as you will notice, right before the stump actually falls off, it smells!! (And that is completely normal.) At least if you don't wash it off with alcohol.
When to Call A Doctor
It is important to call your baby's doctor if you suspect that your baby is developing an infection. Also, call your pediatrician if you have any questions about caring for your baby in general or about caring for the cord stump. Your baby's doctor will be happy to answer your questions and offer advice.
Caring for the cord stump doesn't have to be scary or complicated. As long as you keep it clean and dry, and watch out for signs of infection, you should be fine. Before you know it, the stump will have fallen off and all that will be left is an adorable little belly button.
And after it falls off, if the belly button does not look completely adorable immediately, don't worry. It most likely will soon!
It can look a bit raw and red at first, but within a couple of days or even up to a week or more it will start looking like the cute belly button it is about to become. There may be occasions when the belly button won't close properly. You can read more about that here.
Would other parents find this valuable? Share it!
More Baby Care Articles
Newborn Care
Hair and Body Care
Baby Teeth Issues
In The Diaper
The Pacifier
Crying And Bonding
The Sick Baby
What baby info are you looking for?
Did you like what you just read? Share your love:
|
Never miss a single baby tip! Get the latest news and tips for your pregnancy and baby with our monthly newsletter.
Comments
NEW!Share your thoughts, experiences and comments about what you just read.