How to take care of your baby’s umbilical cord

The umbilical cord connects your baby’s body to your body. When your baby grows inside you, they count entirely on you. Your baby’s umbilical cord gives them everything he needs to cultivate and develop – including nutrients, oxygen and blood.

“The umbilical cord develops from the placenta, which is attached inside your uterus,” said Dr. Garcia.

And even if it is attached to you, you and your baby do not feel the umbilical cord.

“Do we sens our uterus or any organ in us? Not really. That’s right. This is how the umbilical cord is,” said Dr. Garcia.

Cut the umbilical cord

When your baby is finally born, the umbilical cord is always attached to you. After birth, the umbilical cord is cut – sometimes by your support person and sometimes by one of the suppliers in the room. After its cut, a small stump is left. When the stump falls a few weeks after birth, what remains is the navel of your newborn.

Babies do not feel pain when the umbilical cord is cut. If your baby cries after birth when the umbilical cord is cut, it is probably because they are no longer in the hot and comfortable environment they used to in your belly.

“Moms do not feel pain when the umbilical cord is cut either,” said Dr. Garcia. “The umbilical cord technically belongs to our body, but at the same time, it does not. He has no nerve endings. “

The cord is only a temporary line that connects mom and baby before birth. Once your baby was born and the placenta is delivered, the umbilical cord is no longer part of one or the other body.

Your supplier team will sutgroundize your baby’s umbilical stag. Suppliers will only sew the stump and not on your baby’s skin. Because he has no nervous end, the baby can not feel anything when they become stitches.

Crossing of the delayed cord

The tightening of the delayed cord is when the umbilical cord is not cut just after birth. In general, early tightening cuts the cord within 60 seconds after birth. However, the World Health Organization recommends delaying the cord tightening after the first minute and up to five minutes after birth.

“This is a last push to give your baby all the rest of the blood flowing in the cord,” said Dr. Garcia.

This can especially help babies who are more likely to have a weak iron, and he can even benefit babies for six months after birth.

If you have specific hopes for cutting the umbilical cord – who cuts the cord to delay the tightening of the cord – be sure to discuss it with your care team before delivery.

Umbilical cord care

When does the umbilical cord fall?

“He shouldn’t take more than three weeks to fall. Usually, the umbilical cord strain falls on the 10th day of your baby’s life,” said Dr. Garcia.

“If your baby’s stump did not fall in a month, call your doctor about your baby’s umbilical cord.”

Clean your baby’s umbilical cord

When you think about cleaning the navel of your newborn, you don’t have to worry too much. This is because it is not necessary to give your baby a bath while he has the umbilical cord strain.

“Babies do not need as much baths as we think. They don’t do much in the first weeks of life that makes them dirty,” said Dr. Garcia.

“Usually, babies get their first bath in the hospital, and you are not as parents who need to do so, so there is already less concern.”

Dr. Garcia recommends two things: keep the sting dry and do not touch it.

Make a sponge bath and keep the stump dry. So when you give your baby a sponge bath, do not wash the stump.

“Doctors recommended cleaning the strain with alcohol, but this is no longer recommended. It only kills the bacteria necessary to help the stump to fall. In addition, it can irritate your baby’s skin,” said Dr. Garcia.

Umbilical cord problems

Umbilical cord bleeding

Dr. Garcia said that bleeding on the navel are not to be feared, but there are times when the bleeding of the umbilical cord is a concern.

“It is good to know what type of umbilical cord bleeding you see. Active, persistent and lively red bleeding should not occur. If it is an active and active bleeding, go to the emergency service. If it is just a little blood, you can speak to your baby pediatrician. An aqueous discharge or a little humidity of the strain after birth is OK. ”

Normal umbilical cord vs infected

A normal umbilical cord strain begins yellow and becomes brown or black.

An infected umbilical cord strain may feel bad, cause your baby’s fever, cause redness around the navel or cause unusual bleeding.

If it seems to be infected, you should call the doctor about your baby’s umbilical cord.