During pregnancy, the umbilical cord is used to provide nutrients to the baby and, after birth, an umbilical clamp or clamp is cut and placed to be called an umbilical stump. In the first few days after birth, the umbilical stump looks gelatinous, wet and shiny, but after a few days it becomes dry, hardened and black.
The umbilical stump needs care and vigilance, before and after the fall, because if these precautions are not taken they can accumulate bacteria, favoring the appearance of infections and inflammations. In addition, the umbilical stump drop time can take up to 15 days, however, it is different for each baby.
- The baby’s umbilical stump should be handled with care and some simple steps should be taken to prevent infection.
- Mainly because the newborn has very sensitive skin and does not yet have well-developed body defenses.
Before falling, the baby’s umbilical stump care should be done at least 3 times a day, always after bathing and changing diapers, so that the baby’s belly button heals more quickly and does not become infected.
The baby’s umbilical stump usually falls between 7 and 15 days and it is normal to become smaller, blacker and drier until it falls. The precautions to be taken are:
After passing the swab once, you should throw it away and use a new swab, as this prevents the development of infections in the umbilical stump. Cleaning the umbilical stump does not cause pain, but it is normal for the baby to cry because the fluid containing alcohol or chlorhexidine is cold.
After cleaning, the umbilical stump should be kept clean and dry, and it is not recommended to iron homemade products or put straps, belts or any other garment that tightens the baby’s navel as this increases the risk of infection.
In addition, the layer should be bent and placed under the navel to prevent it from getting in place and prevent the umbilical stump from getting wet by urine or.
After the umbilical stump falls, it is important to keep the navel site under observation and the cleanliness should continue for 10 days. After bathing, it is important to dry the navel with a clean cloth, performing gentle movements.
In this case, to clean the navel, it is necessary to use cotton or gauze with a saline solution, instead of 70% alcohol.
It is not advisable to place a coin or other object to prevent the navel from sticking out, as this can cause a serious infection in the baby, mainly because the bacteria contained in these objects can spread to the body of the newborn.
The baby should be followed by a pediatrician, however, parents or family members should seek immediate medical attention if the belly button area shows the following signs:
In these situations, the pediatrician evaluates the baby’s belly button and guides appropriate treatment, which may include the use of antibiotics, if the belly button is infected, for example. And it’s also important to consult your pediatrician if your baby’s belly button takes more than 21 days to fall, as this may be a sign of change.