Congratulations on your new arrival. You now have so many important things to take care of. One of those things is your baby’s umbilical cord stump. Before you left the hospital, the nurses took the clamp off of your baby’s umbilical cord and left you with a tiny piece of hard skin to take care of. Not to worry, this unsightly stump should be gone within three weeks. It is the shortest job you will have when it comes to taking care of your newborn.
When taking care of your child’s umbilical cord stump there are many things to consider. What kind of diapers should I use? Do I cover the stump to protect it? What if there is bleeding or some other discharge? How do I keep the area clean? The following information should help you take excellent care of your newborns umbilical cord.
One way the diaper companies help with this job is by making diapers that are cut-out around the stump. This is to help keep the diaper from rubbing up against it. If you would rather not pay the extra money for these special diapers, or you are using cloth diapers, you can simply fold down the top of the diaper. Even if you do buy the special cut-out diapers you may still need to fold down the top, depending on the size of your newborn.
A very important cord care procedure is cleaning the area with alcohol every time you change your child’s diaper. It is not necessary to clean the actual umbilical cord, just the area around it. You can use a q-tip or an alcohol swatch for this job. Make sure you move the stump so you clean all around it. Don’t leave any dried blood in the area.
It is not necessary to cover the umbilical cord. Although you may want to cover it for protection, it is actually best to give the stump a chance to get some air. By allowing air to circulate around the stump it will heal and dry faster.
Your newborn should only be given a sponge bath until the cord falls off. This will help keep the stump dry. Keeping the umbilical cord dry is an important part of the healing process. Once the stump falls off, it is safe to bathe your child in the tub or sink.
Do not pick or pull on your child’s umbilical cord. It will fall off naturally when it is ready. A small amount of bleeding from the umbilical stump is common.
After your child’s umbilical cord stump has fallen off you should continue cleaning the belly button area for a few days. Small amounts of bleeding may occur. This is normal and why it is important to keep the area clean.
Here are some signs to look for in umbilical cord care that are not normal.
Oozing from the area around the umbilical stump.
A foul odor developing.
Swollen skin or excessive redness.
Bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure.
If your child’s umbilical cord shows any of these signs it is important to contact your pediatrician.
