Umbilical Cord Care for Newborn Babies
The Umbilical Cord cord connects the fetus to the mother in the womb. This helps to transfer oxygen and nutrients from mother to baby. Post-delivery baby’s umbilical cord is not needed and hence cut and clamped. This wouldn’t be painful to your child as there are no nerves in the cord. The clamp stays on the stump connected to the baby’s tummy and the stump would be generally around 2 to 3 cms long. This is commonly referred to as Umbilical Cord Stump.
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Falling of Umbilical Cord Stump
The stump generally falls between 7-12 days post-delivery. Sometimes it may take longer but there is no need to worry. The yellowish stump will turn green to brown to black and then fall off on its own. A small tinge of blood may be visible post the fall and it shall dry in a week or two.
Care Tips
• Keep the stump dry by regularly exposing it to air.
• A sponge bath in earlier days is ideal.
• Avoid soap, oil, powder, cream near the stump or navel.
• Choose loose-fitting clothes for your child.
• Careful with diapers and poop too.
• Allow it to fall off on its own, no pulling ever.
When to visit a Doctor?
• When it doesn’t fall post 4 weeks.
• Yellowish fluid around the base and smells bad.
• The surrounding skin becomes red and swollen.
• Baby cries when you touch the stump or surrounding skin.
• Develops a fever and reduces breastmilk or formula intake.
• Proper care is all that is needed during the initial days and I hope this article helped you a bit.
Video: Umbilical Cord Care for Newborn Babies
- Video in Hindi – नवजात शिशुओंकि गर्भनाल की देखभाल
- Video in Kannada – ನವಜಾತ ಶಿಶು ಕರುಳು ಬಳ್ಳಿಯ ಆರೈಕೆ
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