All babies are born with an umbilical cord, which is cut at birth to leave a stump that parents must care for until it falls off. While the drying and loss of the cord is generally uneventful, sometimes problems do occur. Parents who pay attention to their baby's umbilical cord stump can help prevent these complications and notice them quickly if they do occur.
Anatomy
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord sends blood containing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus from the placenta and delivers deoxygenated blood back to the mother's body. At birth, the cord is clamped to stop the flow of blood from the placenta and then cut. An umbilical cord stump remains in what will become the belly button. This umbilical cord stump generally dries, changing color from yellow to black over the course of one to three weeks, and eventually falls off.
Cleaning
Daily involves keeping the area clean and dry. Some pediatricians recommend wiping around the cord with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol a few times each day. Others believe that the cord will dry out more effectively if left alone and advise parents not to use alcohol on the cord. Parents should consult with their pediatrician to determine the best course of action.
Avoiding Moisture
Newborns who still have their stump should not be immersed in water. This means that instead of baths in a baby tub, the newborn should get sponge baths until the cord falls off. Parents should also attempt to prevent the diaper from covering the stump, either by folding the top of the diaper down, cutting a notch out of the area near the cord or buying special newborn diapers that have a pre-cut notch for the cord. This helps prevent urine from getting on the cord stump and making it moist.
Problems
In some cases, the umbilical cord becomes infected, exhibiting redness or tenderness in the area around the cord and a yellow discharge. The baby may also cry when the cord is touched if he has an infection. If the cord gets pulled off early, bleeding may occur and can be difficult to stop. The formation of pink scar tissue, called a granuloma, is another potential problem that requires a doctor's advice.
Persistent Cord
The umbilical cord stump normally falls off on its own, without any need for active removal by the parents. In some cases, however, the cord remains present for longer than normal. If the cord has not fallen off by eight weeks after birth, a doctor can check it to rule out any anatomical abnormalities and remove the stump manually if necessary.
