Taking care of the umbilical cord is not a complicated task. The important thing is to know what to do and what to watch out for in the first two weeks of your little one’s life. Check out our post!
The baby’s umbilical cord is responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen during pregnancy. This cord is cut shortly after birth, leaving a small bluish stump about an inch long. It takes 1-2 weeks for it to dry and fall off naturally. During this period, care and attention are needed to avoid irritation and infection. Read the post to learn more.
How to take care of an umbilical cord
After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut and the small piece that remains in the belly is called a stump. A newborn’s umbilical cord stump requires special care to prevent infection. Know what they are.
Keep it dry
Expose the umbilical cord stump to the air as much as possible by tucking the diaper under the stump and wearing lightweight cotton shirts. This will allow the base to dry and will decrease the amount of time it takes for healing to occur, as well as prevent bacteria from proliferating.
Clean up properly
Every day after the bath, you need to clean the baby’s umbilical cord stump. Start by washing your hands and sanitizing from nails to wrists. Then, moisten cotton with 70% alcohol and spread it all over the area around the belly button. Finally, just dry well by lightly tapping with a piece of gauze.
Avoid submerging the baby in the bathtub
Avoid submerging the umbilical cord stump until it has fallen off and the skin underneath is healed. Instead, use a sponge with mild soap and let the water run over the stump, without touching or rubbing it to avoid irritation.
Let the stump fall off naturally
It can be tempting to “help” the stump fall off, especially if it appears to be hanging by a thread. But it’s important to make sure it falls off on its own to avoid injury, causing bleeding and possible infection.
Photo: Pinterest
Watch out for signs of infection
Normal signs of baby umbilical cord stump healing include a slight smell as the stump heals, stains on the baby’s clothing, and small amounts of yellow or green discharge or even a little blood or crust around the base.
Contact your baby’s pediatrician if you notice signs of infection, such as:
- A large amount of yellow pus or blood
- Very unpleasant odor
- Redness or swelling around the umbilical stump
- Your baby shows discomfort or pain when you touch the stump
- The baby has a fever
- The umbilical cord did not fall out within 3 weeks of birth.
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Also, read our article on baby blues and postpartum depression.
