Umbilical Cord Care

Summary:It's your first bundle of joy and the excitment and joy is overwhelming! As a new parent there can be many things that can cause unneeded cause for concern. The umbilical chord can seem confusing, look painful and be intimidating.

As your doctor will tell you, your baby’s umbilical cord stump will fall off within 2-4 weeks, but there are some important things you should do until that time. The nurse will usually remove the plastic clamp from your newborn’s cord by 24 hours of age. The first days your newborn’s cord may be swollen and even jelly like. Don’t be alarmed. Over the next few days it begins to dry and shrivel off. To prevent infection and expedite the healing process, wipe around the stump with an alcohol soaked cotton ball or q-tip at least 3 times a day or after diaper changes. It’s also suggested to keep your baby’s diaper folded down helps the stump to keep air circulating. Dr. William Sears, M.D. author of The Baby Book, says “it is normal to see a few drops of blood the day the stump falls off”, but if there is a persistent bloody or puss-like discharge and/or increasing offensive odor, call your pediatrician immediately for this could be a sign of infection. Most pediatricians agree that sponge baths are suitable until the cord falls off and the stump is well healed.