During pregnancy, the baby survived by reason of the nourishment and oxygen transferred from the placenta via the umbilical cord. It is attached to the baby through an opening in the abdomen. At birth, the baby can breathe on his own and get nourishment from feeding, a sign that the umbilical cord is due to be cut off.
After the umbilical cord is cut and cleaned after birth, the umbilical cord stump remains.
The stump will dry up and drop within three weeks, if it does not fall off by then, contact a doctor. There is no need to panic or worry unless in a case the stump shows signs of an infection.
How to Care for a Newborns Umbilical Stump
- Keep the stump and surrounding area free from moist, keep it clean and dry. Use cotton swabs or wash clothes with clean water and a mild soap to clean the base of the stump. There is no need the stump except in cases where it is accidentally messed up with baby poop or something similar.
In such cases, use warm water to clean the stump and dry it afterwards.
- Do not apply alcohol to the stump. It is an outdated practice. Experts no longer recommend the use of alcohol for umbilical cord stump care.
- Avoid baby diapers covering the stump. Fold the baby’s diapers below the stump so the stump can get enough air.
- Change the baby’s diapers regularly so urine doesn’t soak towards the stump.
- Avoid tight clothing for the baby until the stump falls off.
- Clean any discharge with a wet cotton swab followed by a dry one.
- Do not pull off the stump even if it seems to be hanging by a thi thread, this may result in bleeding
- Continue to clean the belly button with a mild soap and warm water after the stump falls.
Signs of an Infected Stump
- Foul smell from the stump
- Redness and/or swelling of the base of the stump
- Active bleeding from the stump
- Fever
Reach out to a doctor if you have any concerns about the umbilical cord stump and the healing process.