Baby Care – Cord Care
One thing my daughter worried about after having her baby was umbilical cord care. Many new parents worry about this and wonder how to take care of it. So, in this post, we’ll go over how to take care of this, but before we do, let’s go over a few things. After your baby is born, the doctor or midwife will clamp the umbilical cord and then cut it, leaving a stump about 3 cm long. After a couple of days when this has dried and sealed, this clamp will be removed, and after about 7-8 days this should fall off after turning black and wrinkling, leaving a small wound that will heal and become your baby’s belly button. .
Cord care:
What is very important in cord care is to keep the cord clean and dry to prevent infection. You can do this by doing up and following the baby or bathing the baby. Many parents worry about getting the cord stump wet, but it is safe, just VERY GENTLY dry the stump with a soft, dry towel. It is advisable to let the stump of the cord dry before putting the diaper on the baby. Don’t let the baby get cold while doing this, dress the top half of the baby and keep him warm until it’s time to put on a diaper, then continue dressing and swaddling. Years ago when I had my babies we were advised to use a cotton swab and some antiseptic on the cord stump; however, that is not a common practice now. Remember, if you are worried; discuss your concerns with your doctor or midwife.
Next, we need to talk about cord care when changing a baby’s diaper:
At all costs, you should not let the cord stain urine or feces. If you are using a disposable diaper made especially for newborns, one way is to tuck the top of the diaper under the drawstring. My daughter and her husband did this and it was very effective. When it’s time to change the baby’s diaper, a little advice for my daughter’s cord care; she covers the cord with a tissue and then with a wet wipe (the disposable wipes she buys to clean the baby at a diaper change) before undoing the diaper; change the diaper making sure to clean and cream it well. Then, once the clean diaper is on, fold the top under, remove the diaper, and wipe. Don’t panic if, for some reason, the cord gets a little urine or feces on it; It’s not the end of the world! Using a little PH neutral baby liquid soap, clean the area well and allow it to dry.
2 more things that are most important in cord care that may seem obvious, but are very important:
-Let the stump fall off naturally, do not pull on it.
-Wash your hands before, after a diaper change and before touching the cord. Another little tip is that once you have washed and dried your hands, spray some hand sanitizer on it and massage it into your hands, then you know they are really clean. You can buy this hand sanitizer in several sizes, but the cheapest is a large pump bottle. From there, you fill up pocket bottles to take with you when you’re out with your baby so you always have clean hands when handling.
I now know that a burning question you will ask yourself is “how long will it take for the cord stump to fully heal?” the answer to that is around 10 days. Sometimes you can see a little blood on the diaper in this area, but don’t panic, that’s perfectly normal. Remember, if you are worried about your baby’s umbilical cord stump, if it gets a little teary or smelly, or if the baby isn’t feeling well, contact your doctor right away. Until next time.
Disclaimer:
It is important to note that the information contained in this publication is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a physician.
