Umbilical cord care in newborns

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Sponge bath

Umbilical care

Cord -- umbilical

When the umbilical cord is cut, it leaves a stump, which then dries, heals, and within 1 to 3 weeks falls off. During the time the cord is healing it should be kept as clean and as dry as possible. In order to keep the cord dry, sponge bathe your baby rather than submersing him in a tub of water. If the cord should become wet or soggy it can be gently dried with a hair dryer set on warm. Utmost care must be taken not to burn the baby’s skin with air that is too hot.

Observe the umbilical cord for infection. This does not occur frequently, but can spread quickly if infection does occur. Signs of infection would be:

• foul-smelling, yellow drainage from the cord
• redness and tenderness of the skin surrounding the cord

Another infrequent problem is active bleeding. This usually occurs when the cord is pulled off prematurely. Allow the cord to fall off naturally, even if it is only hanging on by a thread. Active bleeding is defined as every time you wipe away a drop of blood, another drop appears. If the cord does actively bleed, call your baby’s doctor immediately.

Occasionally instead of completely drying, the cord will form a granuloma, which is pink scar tissue. This granuloma drains a light-yellowish fluid. This condition will usually go away in about a week, but if not, your pediatrician may need to cauterize the granulation tissue.

Your baby's umbilical cord stump should dry up and fall off by 8 weeks of age. If your baby's stump remains beyond that time, it may suggest an anatomical abnormality or immunological problem. See the primary care practitioner if the cord has not dried up and fallen off by the time the baby is 2 months old.

Review Date: 12/01/2005
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.