The first few weeks after your baby is born, you'll need to keep the stump of the umbilical cord clean and dry as it shrivels and eventually falls off.
There is no need to use alcohol on the cord; just keep it clean. Meanwhile, a quick submersion bath is fine before the cord falls off, just dry the stump afterward. Also, keep the diaper folded below the cord to keep urine from soaking it.
You may notice a few drops of blood on the diaper around the time the stump falls off; this is normal. But if the cord actively bleeds, call your baby's doctor immediately. If the stump becomes infected, it will require medical treatment.
The umbilical cord stump should dry and fall off by the time your baby is three weeks old. If it is still there beyond that time, a doctor's visit is needed.
Umbilical Granuloma
Sometimes instead of completely drying, the cord will form a granuloma or a small reddened mass of scar tissue that stays on the belly button after the umbilical cord has fallen off. This granuloma will drain a light-yellowish fluid. This condition will usually go away in about a week, but if not, your pediatrician may need to burn off (cauterize) the granulomatous tissue.
Umbilical Hernia
If your baby's umbilical cord area seems to push outward when she cries, she may have an umbilical hernia—a small hole in the muscular part of the abdominal wall that allows the tissue to bulge out when there is increased abdominal pressure (i.e., crying). This is not a serious condition, and it usually heals by itself in the first twelve to eighteen months. (For unknown reasons it often takes longer to heal in African American babies.)
In the unlikely event it doesn't heal by three to five years of age, the hole may need surgery. Don't put tape or a coin on the navel. It will not help the hernia, and it may cause a skin rash.
More Information
Bathing Your Newborn
Umbilical Hernia in Children
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
Caring for your baby’s umbilical stump is fairly simple.
Your baby’s umbilical cord stump usually dries and falls off two to three weeks after birth. Until then, it takes a little care and attention to prevent infection.
Caring for Baby’s Umbilical Cord
- Clean the base of the cord stump at each diaper change with a cotton ball soaked with alcohol. Your baby may cry when you touch him with the cold alcohol, but this is not painful to him.
- Try to keep the diaper positioned below the navel to avoid irritation.
- Wash with water if the cord is soiled with urine or stool.
- Give sponge baths until the cord stump falls off and the navel is completely healed.
- It’s normal to see a little blood on the diaper when the stump falls off.
Call the doctor if the cord:
- Becomes red
- Bleeds
- Smells bad
- Has pus or red skin at its base
- Is so sensitive that your baby cries when you touch the cord or the skin next to it
Video: Caring for Your Baby's Umbilical Cord
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Baby Umbilical Cord Care
Your baby’s umbilical cord area should heal in about 7 to 10 days. Learn how to care for your newborn's umbilical cord to prevent infection until then.
Don't be afraid to clean your newborn's umbilical cord. Be sure that you have washed your hands before handling the cord. If the umbilical cord becomes soiled with urine or feces, you should clean the area when you change your baby’s diaper. To clean the cord safely, take a cotton swab, cotton square or cotton round and clean around the base of the umbilical cord with clean water.
Remember to avoid covering the cord with the diaper, because the cord area should be kept dry and clean at all times. If the diaper is too high, fold it down on your baby before securing. You can also buy special newborn diapers that have a space cut-out for the umbilical cord.