Once you are done with delivery with the baby, then are there the responsibility doesn’t end there. You have to be very careful with respect to that of taking care of the baby. Especial with the umbilical cord.
The umbilical cord (R) is a way through which the oxygen and nutrients pass from the mother to the child. This forms around the seventh week of pregnancy. It is a means of alimenting waste.
Well in this article you will have a fair share knowledge about the tips to care for your newborn umbilical cord. You will also get to know signs of umbilical cord infection.
How To Care For New Born Umbilical Cord?
There are certain tips that you can take care of your newborn umbilical cord to keep it safe and secure. Some of the ways are as follows-
1. Keep It Clean:
This is the first step to take care of the newborn umbilical cord. All the pediatricians recommend first to this. You can clean the base of the cord by using or rubbing alcohol, use it in less amount as it can irritate the skin. You can use also Goldenseal Root and Echinacea.
If the stump is dirty then you can also use a wet cloth and clean with plain water. Do maintain to avoid the moisture around it.
2. Keep It Dry:
Make sure you keep the umbilical cord dry and keep on exposing under the air. This will helps to deals with the amount of time that is required to occur healing. You can have the baby diaper that has the cut or folding as it will allow the airs to pass and keep them away from becoming irritated.
Especially in winter dress them very carefully and make sure they have a passage for air.
3. Give Sponge Bath:
You shouldn’t give the baby a complete bath after the newborn birth until the umbilical cord falls out. You can give birth after complete areas get dry up. Otherwise, it can create irritation.
So during this time phase, you should give them a sponge birth. Make sure you give them a bath in a sink or tub.
4. Change Diaper Carefully:
With diaper also it can lead to irritation in babies so you have to very careful and keep it open. As there should place where the air should pass on. You should fold down the diaper at the belly bottom area so that it will not fall down or over the stumps.
5. Choose Loose Fitting Dress:
At least at the initial days of the newborn baby, they should wear loose fitting dresses. As this will allows the airs to pass on. Try to avoid the snap crotch undershirts. Make sure you take care of especially with the winter dress of your baby as it can leads to blockage in the airways.
6. Let It Fall Off Its Own:
One of the bigger umbilical cord care tips is that you should allow the umbilical cord to fall on its own. Don’t take out the umbilical cord by ourselves. This can also lead to bleeding.
7. Don’t Cover:
The umbilical cords should not be covered with coins, bandage, or wraps. This doesn’t work with this senior or over here. This may cause you more irritation in babies. In some cases, it can cause sepsis also.
Sign Of Umbilical Cord Infection:
There may be a chance of signs of infection in newborns. Some of them are as follows-
- The base appears red or swollen
- Sometimes it continues to bleed
- Oozes yellowish or white pus
- It has foul smelling discharge
- Sometimes it is painful to the baby
- Radish moist lumps
- Fluid filled lumps
- Fever of 100 degrees or more
- Abdominal swellings
- Irritability
- Low appetite
[Read: Benefits Of Sunlight For Newborn Babies]
How Long Does A Newborn Umbilical Cord Stay On?
As per the research and studies, the cord stumps stays attach at about 5 to 15 days after the birth. Then with the passage of time, the cord dies up. It shrinks and gets black.
In some of the cases, the umbilical cord gets fall off on a day also. Don’t pull it out just allow it naturally falls out with a course of time. If you do this then it can lead to bleeding and prolong the healing time.
Allow the cord to fall it naturally with a course of time. Before this also you can consult a doctor also.
This forms around the seventh week of pregnancy. It is a means of alimenting waste. The newborn umbilical cord is very much important for the baby so be very careful with this. I hope this article has given you good information about the tips to care for your newborn umbilical cord.
