To keep the area dry, fold the diaper below the cord, and refrain from using lotion, powder or petroleum jelly on or near the stump. Don’t attempt to pull off or remove the cord. When it falls off, a small amount of bleeding is natural.
Taking care of the stump
- Keep the stump dry. Parents were once instructed to swab the stump with rubbing alcohol after every diaper change. …
- Stick with sponge baths. While there’s no harm in getting the stump wet, sponge baths might make it easier to keep the stump dry.
- Let the stump fall off on its own.
After the cord falls off, continue sponge baths for a few more days. Help the belly button area dry up. Then, tub baths will be fine.
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Normal Navel Care:
- Keep the navel (belly button) clean and dry.
- If there are any secretions, clean them away. …
- Do this gently to prevent any bleeding.
How long does it take for the belly button to heal after the umbilical cord falls off? The skin underneath the stump may be a little red when the dried stump first falls off, but it should soon heal—usually within two weeks.
What to do after the umbilical cord falls off
- Wipe away any remaining secretions with a dampened washcloth and pat dry.
- Stick to sponge baths for a couple of days longer and then let your baby indulge in a tub.
Should you put Vaseline in an umbilical cord?
To keep the area dry, fold the diaper below the cord, and refrain from using lotion, powder or petroleum jelly on or near the stump. Don’t attempt to pull off or remove the cord. When it falls off, a small amount of bleeding is natural.
You can help your baby’s umbilical cord stump fall off and heal faster by keeping it dry. Keep your baby’s diaper folded below the umbilical cord stump. If folding does not work well, before you put the diaper on your baby, cut out a small area near the top of the diaper to keep the cord open to air.
After the cord has fallen off, the navel will gradually heal. It’s normal for the center to look red at the point of separation. It’s not normal if the redness spreads on to the belly. It’s normal for the navel to ooze some secretions.
How to identify an umbilical cord infection
- red, swollen, warm, or tender skin around the cord.
- pus (a yellow-greenish liquid) oozing from the skin around the cord.
- a bad smell coming from the cord.
- fever.
- a fussy, uncomfortable, or very sleepy baby.
Once the stump falls off, you can give your baby a proper bath. You don’t have to clean the belly button any more or less than the rest of baby’s body. You can use the corner of a washcloth to clean in the belly button, but you don’t need to use soap or to scrub too hard.
The part of the umbilical cord that’s still attached to your baby is the umbilical stump. Often the clamp is still attached to the stump. During the first few days after birth, the stump gets darker, shrivels and eventually falls off to become your baby’s belly button. Sometimes this takes a week or two.
Can umbilical cord hurt newborn?
There are no nerve endings in your baby’s cord, so it doesn’t hurt when it is cut. What’s left attached to your baby is called the umbilical stump, and it will soon fall off to reveal an adorable belly button.
How do you know if umbilical cord is wrapped around baby?
Signs The Umbilical Cord Is Around Baby’s Neck
- It’s visible via ultrasound. …
- Baby is suddenly moving less in the last weeks of your pregnancy. …
- Baby suddenly moves forcefully, then moves considerably less. …
- Baby’s heart rate is decelerating during labor.