This post is
subject to the Disclaimer of this blog/website.
Care of the umbilical cord is one of the important things
new parents have difficulty with. The delicate nature of the cord, the blood
and pus associated with it and the apprehension that the baby any handling is
painful for the baby is a major cause of concern.
What is the Umbilical
cord? Why is it there in the first place and why the clip over it?
This umbilical cord is what actually connects the mother to
the baby during pregnancy. The umbilical cord which originates in the abdomen
of the baby is connected to the placenta which in turn is connected to the
uterus. This cord contains blood vessels which carry blood containing nutrients
and oxygen from the mother to the baby and waste and carbon dioxide from the
mother to the baby.
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| Umbilical Cord Structure |
After birth all these functions are done by the baby itself and
then there is no requirement of the placenta and the umbilical cord. This cord
is clamped so there is no blood oozing for the blood vessels in the cord and is
cut. (thereby separating the placenta and the baby). This cord clamp (the clip
over your little one’s cord) keeps the vessels closed till the cord does not
dry off. The small cord left behind is the cord stump. And the best part is all this is painless.
How long is the umbilical
cord stump going to be there?
The umbilical cord usually falls of by 10-14 days of life. In
very few babies it may take up to 21 days for the cord to fall off.
How do I take care of
the cord stump at home?
You need to take care to keep the cord clean. Antiseptic or
alcohol rubs are not required to clean the cord. If your baby has had a bath pat
dry the cord. Let the cord be in open air to dry off the water. Unlit and unless you are not rubbing the cord or irritating it, it is completely painless
(You may be interested
on the topic: When to give my newborn the first
bath?)
Fold the diaper away from the cord and let make sure the cord clamp does not come to lie inside the diaper. It may pull the cord and cause irritation.
Never pull the cord. Resist all temptation to pull and
detach the cord even if it is just attached at a point. Let the cord dry off
and fall by its self.
What to do after the
cord falls off?
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| Cord fallen with thick yellow fluid. Normal. |
After the cord fall you may notice a bit of bleeding of a
bit of yellowish fluid over the umbilicus. Clean the blood and any other secretion
which may be there and leave it to dry.
When do I consult a
doctor if I feel that the cord or my baby does not seem right?
When in doubt its always better to consult your paediatrician/neonatologist
How ever if your baby has any of the danger signs then please contact your paediatrician/neonatologist
immediately.
Umbilical cord stump can get infected and you need to look
for signs which indicated it and if present consult your paediatrician/neonatologist
immediately
What are the signs of
stump infection that I can look for?
You need to look for general signs of sepsis such as fever,
lethargy, poor feeding, poor muscle tone or any of the danger signs.
Look for foul smelling yellow discharge for the cord stump.
Look for any redness and hardness around the cord stump
base.
If your baby cries out when you touch the cord it can be an
indication for infection
If any of the
above is present, then it could be due to infection and you need to consult your
paediatrician/neonatologist immediately.
This post is
subject to the Disclaimer of this blog/website.
