The Complete Umbilical Cord Care Guide

Highlights

• Taking care of your newborn baby’s umbilical cord stump helps prevent infection.
• The stump will fall off naturally in a week or two and will become your baby’s belly button.
• Good hygiene is the best way to encourage healing.
• See your doctor or health professional if your baby’s belly button area becomes infected or is not healing well.

In This Article

• The Umbilical Cord: A First Connection
• Shedding the First Link
• Nurturing the Healing Spot
• Final Touches to Healing
• When Things Don’t Look Right
• Tiny Tummy Troubles
• Tools And Assistance

The Umbilical Cord: A First Connection

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord delivers oxygen and nutrients to your baby. The umbilical cord connects your placenta to your baby’s tummy.

After your baby is born, their umbilical cord is clamped and cut. This will not hurt you or your baby.

A small part of the umbilical cord is left in place with the clamp. This umbilical stump is usually about 2 to 3cm long.

Shedding the First Link

The umbilical stump (along with the clamp) usually falls off after about 5 to 14 days. It heals and forms your baby’s umbilicus (belly button).

Before falling off, the umbilical cord stump:

• dries
• shrinks
• gets darker

Sometimes, especially in the day or so before it falls off, the stump can ooze a little. It may leave marks on your baby’s clothes.

Don’t pull the cord stump off, even if it looks like it will come off easily. Pulling it off can delay healing and cause scarring. Also, do not remove the clamp — it will fall off on its own with the umbilical stump.

When the umbilical cord stump falls off, there is sometimes a little bleeding. This is normal and it should stop quickly.

See your doctor or health professional if you have any concerns.

Nurturing the Healing Spot

There are ways for you to prevent problems, such as infection, during healing of their umbilical cord stump.

Try not to touch the cord stump other than when you’re washing it. If you need to touch your baby’s umbilical cord stump area, wash your hands thoroughly first.

Washing the umbilical cord stump

You can gently wash your baby’s umbilical cord stump as part of their usual bathing routine.

Directions for washing:

• Use only water and cotton pads to wash the area.
• You don’t need to use antiseptics or special creams.
• Dry the area around the stump carefully — you can pat it dry gently with a towel or soft cloth.
• Allow the area time to air dry if the weather is not too cold.
• If wee or poo gets on the stump, you can use a mild soap and water to help clean it off.

Nappies and the umbilical cord stump

The stump needs to dry out in the air. So, don’t cover your baby’s umbilical cord stump with their nappy. If your baby’s nappy covers the stump, simply fold it over at the top, so it sits below your baby’s belly button area.

Don’t cover the cord stump with adhesive plasters or bandages, as this stops airflow around the stump.

Final Touches to Healing

Your baby’s belly button should heal completely in a few days. It’s normal for it to bleed or ooze a little after the cord stump falls off.

Always wash your hands before touching your baby’s belly button. Keep the area clean and dry.

Use a clean cotton bud with warm water to remove any ooze from your baby’s belly button area.

When Things Don’t Look Right

If there is continuous stickiness or discharge, your baby’s belly button may be infected. You should show your doctor or health professional.

Signs of an infection of the belly button may include:

• redness in and around the belly button
• their belly button is warm to touch
• swelling of the area
• stickiness or a cloudy ooze
• a bad smell

If you think your baby’s cord stump or belly button is infected, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Your baby might also show signs of being generally unwell, such as:

• fever
• poor feeding
• sleepiness

Fever in young babies can be dangerous. If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever above 38°C, seek medical attention immediately.

Tiny Tummy Troubles

Umbilical granuloma

Sometimes, baby’s belly buttons do not heal completely. Moist red tissue forms over the stump site, which may form a small lump. This is called an ‘umbilical granuloma’.

An umbilical granuloma may ooze a small amount of clear or yellow fluid.

See your doctor if your baby’s belly button is not healing well.

To help an umbilical granuloma heal, your doctor may recommend salt treatment.

Salt treatment involves:

• Cleaning your baby’s belly button area with warm water and drying it.
• Applying a small pinch of table or cooking salt to their umbilical granuloma.
• Covering the area with a dry gauze dressing for 30 minutes to keep the salt on.
• After 30 minutes, removing the salt using a cotton ball that has been soaked in warm water.
• Making sure the area is clean and dry.

This procedure can be done twice daily for 3 to 5 days.

Sometimes, topical treatment may be applied to the granuloma by your doctor.

Umbilical hernia

If you notice a small, soft lump around your baby’s belly button, they may have an umbilical hernia.

Umbilical hernias can look like a bulge or swelling around the belly button. The swelling can come and go, and you may notice it more when your baby cries.

Umbilical hernias are common in babies and small children. They often go away as your child gets older.

Umbilical hernias do not usually cause serious problems, but sometimes they need to be treated with surgery if they don’t go away on their own.

Tools And Assistance

Here are some tools and tips that can help you care for your baby’s umbilical cord stump and belly button:

1. Cotton pads and warm water: These are essential for gently cleaning the area around the umbilical stump without the need for antiseptics or harsh chemicals.
2. Towels or soft cloths: Use these to gently pat the area dry after cleaning the umbilical stump. A soft, clean towel will ensure the area remains dry, which is important for healing.
3. Nappies: Make sure the nappy is positioned below the umbilical stump to prevent irritation and allow it to dry naturally. Fold the nappy over if necessary.
4. Gauze dressing: In case of an umbilical granuloma, use clean, dry gauze to apply salt treatment and keep the area covered for short periods.
5. Temperature thermometer: To check for signs of infection, a thermometer is useful in monitoring your baby’s body temperature, especially in cases of suspected fever.
6. Clean cotton buds: These are perfect for gently cleaning any discharge or ooze from the belly button area after the stump falls off.
7. Salt for granuloma treatment: Your doctor might recommend salt for treating an umbilical granuloma. It’s a simple, natural treatment that promotes healing.
8. Doctor or health professional support: Always keep contact with a medical professional for guidance and if you notice any signs of infection or complications with the healing process.