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Take Care of Your Newborn's Umbilical Cord Stump

What is Umbilical Cord ?

Umbilical Cord Healing

The umbilical cord is the connecting cord from the developing embryo to the placenta.During pregnancy it carries oxygenated nutrient-rich blood from the placenta to the growing fetus.After your baby is born, the midwife clamps the cord, cuts it and then leaves an umbilical stump.This is a painless procedure as there are not any nerves in it.

When will it Drop off?

The umbilical stump remains until it dries and drops off. This procedure may take 7–10 days.

How to Take Care of it?

	Keep the area around the base of it dry and clean.
	Some pediatricians recommend to rub alcohol around the base of the stump two or three times a day to speed up the drying process while others suggest to let it dry on it own.

Why there is a controversy about the care of it ?

According to a study published in 1998 by Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation in Ontario, Canada, the stumps that were left to dry on their own fell off in eight days while those rubbed with alcohol fell off in ten days.They also found that none of the infants who participated in the study developed an infection.

Conclusion:

Any way you choose is recommended but remember to follow the next important steps:

	Avoid covering it. Fold the top of the diaper down so that the umbilical stump is exposed, or use a newborn diaper with a cutout for the stump.
	In order to let air circulate and speed the drying process have your baby wear a diaper and loose T-shirt.
	It is recommended to give your baby sponge baths until the stumps drops off. After that you can give your baby a tub baths.

Safety Guidelines

Never pull off the stump even if it looks like it is hanging by a thread.

Consult Baby's Pediatrician if One or All the Symptoms Below Appear:

umbilical cord fall off

	The area around the cord is red and swollen.
	There is bleeding.
	Yellowish pus appears at the base of the stump.
	There is a foul-smelling discharge.
	Your baby develops a fever.

Return from Umbilical Cord to Baby Skin Care

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Welcome

My name is Sarit Bronstein. I'm a stay at home mom and a mother of four. On my website, I strive to share my own practical experience as well as my broader acquired knowledge, based on research and experience of others.