Baby care:Umbilical Stump Care

The last piece of a baby's physical attachment to the mother in the uterus is the stump of the umbilical cord. After delivery, the umbilical cord is cut and clamped. The stump will turn black a few days after birth and will fall off 1-4 weeks later. You can help the umbilical stump heal faster by keeping the area dry and exposed to air.

When you put on your baby's diaper, fold the front of the diaper down below the navel to keep urine off of the cord stump. Folding the diaper down will also allow air to get in. Do not give your baby a tub bath and avoid getting the navel area wet when giving your baby a sponge bath. It is traditional to wipe the cord stump with alcohol swab pads, alcohoil soaked cotton balls or cotton swabs drenched in rubbing alcohol. Alcohol swab pads do not hold as much alcohol solution as cotton balls or cotton swabs. Recent studies have shown that this is not necessary and doing so may actually increase the amount of healing time. Speak with your child's pediatrician to determine which method is right for you and your baby. If the area around your baby's navel becomes red, swollen, gets a foul smell or oozes, you should call your child's doctor to determine if there is an infection present.

If you do decide to use alcohol on your baby's cord stump, you should gather all of the necessary supplies before you begin. Cord care is easily done as you change your baby's diaper. Undress your baby and expose his umbilical cord. The dyes that are on the cord can stain baby clothes, so be selective as to what you put over the cord stump. When you are cleaning the cord stump, hold the cotton swab with one hand and press down on the sides of the umbilical cord with the other hand so that the stump will get more alcohol on it. You can use a cotton ball to squeeze extra alcohol onto the umbilical cord stump. Do not panic if you see dried up blood, dirt or some crustiness. The alcohol is simply cleaning the area and a "dirty" swab should not be a cause for concern. Right before the umbilical cord stump falls off, it will look very dry. Every day the stump will seem smaller and will loose attachment. Do not pull it off or twist it. One day, you will go to change your baby and the cord will be missing or in his diaper. The cord stump looks like a large scab and once it is off, you can throw it away or keep it as memorabilia.

Comments: Baby care - Umbilical-Stump-Care

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Mother of Mi Raye of Light - 197 days ago.
Once my baby's cord fell off, her belly buton had to be treated by her doc with silver nitrate. The doctor told me that at home I should use peroxide to clean it daily and that worked really well. For all you ladies with questions, try using peroxide after it has fell off.

Olivias-Jrs-Mommy - 265 days ago.
Hi ladies jr's cord fell off when he was about 7 days old and now it looks fat and puffy. I kno it can take up to a month to get his permanent belly button but since it was cauterized it looks swollen. What should I do?

mommy2be707 - 382 days ago.
my lil girl is almost 1 month old and her cord stumpfell off at 8 days old but her belly button seems like its still open and it bleeds sometimes... what do i do? link

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