The vast majority of newborns who leave hospital still have the umbilical cord stump. Usually it is dry by then. There is no single date by which the stump comes off. It all depends on its thickness. Most often, however, the stump falls off within a few days or a few weeks. It should be noted that the umbilical cord stump should be properly cared for. Find out how to do it.
Umbilical cord stump – care
There are several rules for caring for the umbilical cord stump. It is very important to wash it with each diaper change. We should rinse with 96% diluted rectified spirit. Such washing should take place several days after the stump has fallen off. In addition, the stump should be kept clean. We should not be afraid of taking a bath. If the stump is wet, nothing will happen. Additionally, the baby’s navel should be ventilated frequently. It is best to roll the diaper properly.
Do not be afraid of the small wound that usually remains after the stump falls off. It heals quite quickly. Then we should also make sure that the morning is aired and washed. Failure to follow the care rules may lead to bacterial contamination. In some cases, washing with alcohol may, unfortunately, irritate the baby’s delicate skin. If you are afraid to try this method, you can replace alcohol with soapy water. This solution does not change the environment around the stump. In addition, the soap is mild and certainly not irritating.
A decontamination spray can also be a good idea. Octenisept, for example, will work here. It is worth mentioning that there are special diapers with a navel hole on the market. Thanks to this, it is constantly aired, and thus – heals faster. However, if we do not want to invest in them, we should fold the diaper as often as possible so that the navel “breathes”.
When the umbilical cord stump festers
If we notice that our child’s umbilical cord stump is festering or something else is happening to it, it is worth visiting a doctor. In some cases, the navel may also bleed. Most often it is a natural condition that only requires lubrication with an antibiotic ointment. However, this decision should always be made by a doctor. We should not be disturbed by small drops of blood – this is a natural phenomenon. However, we should visit the doctor when red-pink tissue appears at the healing site. It is probably granulation tissue.
Certainly, however, we should not be afraid of the care of the navel. Such treatments do not hurt or cause any discomfort to the baby. It is worth doing them gently so as not to get the scab off. We should also remember not to put pressure on the umbilical cord stump and not rub it. It is also worth resigning from placing the baby on her tummy. Even when the umbilical cord stump is literally hanging on the hair, it must not be torn off. You have to wait for it to fall off by itself. Detachment of the stump can lead to scarring and even infection.