Baby Umbilical Cord

Baby umbilical cord is in most cases cut immediately after birth or shortly after birth. We have discussed lotus birth and the options to let the cord dry by itself and fall off. However many people prefer to cut the baby umbilical cord early and want to know how to care for it afterwards.

After the umbilical cord is cut, a stump of tissue remains attached to the baby's navel. The stump dries and finally falls off usually in a week or two.

Baby umbilical stump needs care to prevent infection. What you can do?

Clean It

You can gently clean the baby umbilical stump at least once a day during diaper changes and baths.

1. Take a cotton swab, soak it in warm water and squeeze out the excess water. Wipe around the sides of the stump very gently. You can also use rubbing alcohol. Be careful to avoid irritating the baby's sensitive skin by applying a very thin layer of lotion. Make sure that after cleaning the area is completely dry. Using alcohol there will be no wet, because it evaporates quickly.

After the stump falls off, you will need to clean around the navel at least once a day for some time until the navel is completely healed. Do not worry if there are still smears or dirty substances. It is normal.

Air and Warmth Help the Umbilical Cord Stump to Fall Off

If you fold the baby's diaper below the baby umbilical cord stump, there will be more air and it will be naturally dry. If the room temperature is about high and comfortable, the stump will shrivel quicker.

When you bathe the baby make sure there is no water at the level of the stump. Avoid keeping the baby umbilical cord underwater.

Watch this video for instructions how to bathe the baby before the stump falls off.

It is normal for the umbilical cord to look damp, white and shiny in the beginning. With time it gets darker as it dries and heals.

After the baby umbilical cord falls off, a small amount of fluid tinged with blood continues to ooze out. Do not worry about it. In about two weeks the navel area will be completely dry and clean.

When to Call a Health Professions? How to Recognize an Infection?

- Fever is a sure sign that something is going wrong. It might be an infection, or another cause.

- See if the baby cries when you touch the cord or skin around it without pulling or rubbing.

- Is there pus around the base of the cord?

- Is the area red around the base of the cord?

- Is there swelling and moisture around the baby's navel for more than 2 weeks after the umbilical cord has fallen off. It is possible to be an umbilical granuloma -- a piece of extra tissue. The problem is minor and is healed with a medicine that dries the area. Sometimes it can be removed and stitches, but it is a minor intervention.

Another issue can be an umbilical hernia, It can be recognized if you see a bulging tissue around the navel after the umbilical cord falls off. The umbilical hernia goes away on its own, but it should be monitored by a health professional.

Return from Baby Umbilical Cord to Umbilical Cord Video Gallery

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