Cord Care
What is the umbilical cord?
Cord Care Care Guide
Before your baby is born, the umbilical cord brings food and oxygen to him and removes his wastes. After birth, your baby does not need the umbilical cord anymore. Caregivers cut off all but a small part (stump) of the umbilical cord on your baby's belly. The stump dries and falls off, leaving a navel (belly button) where his umbilical cord once was.
What is umbilical cord care?
Umbilical cord care is keeping the cord stump dry and clean. The cord stump dries, turns black, and falls off in about 7 to 21 days. If your baby was born prematurely (early), it may take longer for the stump to fall off.
Why is umbilical cord care important?
Sometimes the skin around your baby's cord stump gets infected. Very rarely, these infections can also enter your baby's body and cause severe or even life-threatening disease. Taking good care of the umbilical cord stump may prevent this.
How should I keep the umbilical cord stump dry?
Keeping the stump dry helps prevent infection and shortens the time it takes to fall off.
- Air-drying: After diaper changes or stump cleaning, fold the front of the diaper down below the cord stump to let it air-dry.
- Loose baby clothing: Choose clean, loose-fitting clothes for your baby to help the stump dry out faster.
How and when should I clean the umbilical cord stump?
Keeping the stump clean helps prevent it from getting infected.
- Bathing: Some caregivers suggest sponge baths until the stump falls off. Other caregivers allow tub baths from birth on. Ask your baby's caregiver how and when to bathe your baby. Gently wash the cord stump and the skin around it with mild soap and warm water during every bath. Gently pat the stump dry after your baby's bath.
- Cotton swabs and clean water: Your baby's caregiver may suggest using cotton swabs and water to clean the stump. Gently wipe from the base to the top of the stump with cotton swabs dampened with water. Clean the stump 2 to 3 times a day or during each diaper change.
- Urine or stool on stump: If your baby's stump gets dirty from urine or stool, wash it off right away with water. Gently pat the stump dry after you clean it.
What are other ways I can care for the umbilical cord stump?
Your baby's caregiver may suggest one of the following:
- Cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol: For full-term babies, some caregivers suggest using rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs to clean the stump. Gently wipe from the base to the top of the stump with a cotton swab dampened with rubbing alcohol. Clean your baby's stump with rubbing alcohol when your baby's caregiver suggests.
- Germ-killing medicines: If your baby was premature, some caregivers suggest you use germ-killing liquids, powders, or ointments on the stump. Ask your baby's caregiver if you should use germ-killing medicines to help prevent infection. Do not apply any medicine to the stump unless your baby's caregiver says it is okay.
- Breast milk: Breast milk may help prevent infections on the stump. If your baby's caregiver says it is okay, you can apply your breast milk around the stump. Ask how often to apply breast milk to the stump.
What should my baby's cord stump look like?
Your baby's cord feels cool and looks blue-white right after he is born. After it is clamped, it starts to dry and turns yellow-brown. It becomes hard, and there may be some sticky wetness at the bottom of the stump. The stump will soon dry out, turn black, and fall off. It is normal for the stump to stay on longer if your baby was premature. Using rubbing alcohol or germ-killing medicines around the stump may keep the stump on longer. You may also see a few drops of blood around the stump as it begins to fall off.
When should I stop cord care?
Ask your baby's caregiver when you can stop cord care. Some caregivers suggest cleaning the belly button area for 2 more days after the stump falls off.
Dos and do nots:
- Do wash your hands with soap and water before and after baby care.
- Do stay in the room with your baby at the hospital if you can. Rooming in may help prevent umbilical cord infections by limiting the number of caregivers that touch your baby.
- Do breastfeed your baby if you can. Breast milk may help your baby not to get sick because of the antibodies (germ-fighting proteins) it contains.
- Do not pull or tug at the cord stump. The stump will fall off on its own.
- Do not cover the cord stump. Keep your baby's clothes loose, so the stump can dry. If you want to use a bellyband on your baby, use only clean, dry gauze.
- Do not place a coin or other item over the belly button after the stump falls off.
When should I call my baby's caregiver?
- You see pus (yellow or green discharge) around the base of the stump.
- Your baby's stump smells bad, even after you clean it.
- Your baby's cord stump has not fallen off after 21 days.
- You see fluid leaking from a pink or red scar on your baby's navel, after the stump comes off.
- You have questions or concerns about your baby's care.
When should I seek immediate help?
- The skin around the base of your baby's cord stump looks red or swollen.
- Your baby is less active than usual, is not eating well, or has a fever.
- The skin around your baby's umbilical stump feels hard or thick.
- The skin on your baby's belly looks bruised.
- Your baby is having problems swallowing.
- Your baby's neck, shoulders, back, or belly feels stiff, or your baby cries when touched.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your baby's care. Learn about your baby's health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your baby's caregivers to decide what care you want for your baby.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
