Newborn umbilical cord care must be done in the correct way. This aims to prevent irritation and infection of the baby’s umbilical cord. In general, the umbilical cord or umbilical cord of a newborn baby will fall off or fall off within 1-3 weeks after birth. As long as it hasn’t fallen off, the baby’s parents need to keep the area clean and dry. This is because wet and damp conditions in the umbilical cord area can trigger the growth of germs that cause infection.
The Correct Way to Care for a Newborn Baby’s Umbilical Cord
Newborn umbilical cord care should not be done carelessly. There are certain ways to keep this baby’s body parts clean and dry. These methods include:
- Keeps the umbilical cord clean.
Before caring for the baby’s umbilical cord, don’t forget to wash the mother’s hands first. The umbilical cord does not need to be cleaned with alcohol. Just clean it with water, if the umbilical cord is dirty. The umbilical cord must also be dried using a soft cloth or by fanning it until dry. Recent research suggests that the umbilical cord may heal more quickly if left alone. Washing it with alcohol, soap, or antiseptic fluid can actually irritate the skin around the umbilical cord and make it take longer to heal. Also avoid applying oil, powder, herbs or certain herbal medicines around the umbilical cord. - Keeps the umbilical cord dry.
Leave the umbilical cord open without covering it with dry gauze or covering it with a diaper. When putting on a baby’s diaper, make sure the umbilical cord is not covered by the diaper. This aims to prevent the umbilical cord from being exposed to the baby’s urine and feces which can cause infection. Babies also need to wear clothes that are soft and absorb sweat, so that air circulation runs well on their skin. Also avoid wearing bodysuit style clothes (which cover the entire body) on babies. - Let the umbilical cord fall off naturally.
Letting the umbilical cord fall off by itself is one of the correct ways to care for the umbilical cord. Do not force the umbilical cord to be removed by pulling because it can cause bleeding and infection. While the umbilical cord is still attached, bathe the baby by washing his body with a washcloth or bath sponge. Avoid immersing the baby in the bath until the umbilical cord falls off.
Mothers don’t need to worry if they see color changes in the baby’s umbilical cord during the healing process. In the early days after the baby is born, the umbilical cord is usually yellowish and shiny. Over time, the umbilical cord will dry out and shrink until it finally falls off. Usually the color of the umbilical cord will be brown, gray, purplish, bluish, then black. When the umbilical cord breaks, there may be a little blood in the baby’s navel. Don’t worry, this is also normal. In addition, sometimes there is clear or yellow fluid and remaining tissue in the navel called umbilical granulomas. This fluid can disappear by itself.
Conditions that need to be watched out for and need to be treated by a doctor are if the baby’s umbilical cord shows signs of infection, such as:
- Pus in the umbilical cord.
- Baby has fever.
- The skin around the umbilical cord area is swollen and reddish.
- The umbilical cord is yellowish or smells bad.
- The umbilical cord is bleeding profusely and continuously.
- The baby cries whenever the umbilical cord or surrounding skin is touched.
Caring for a newborn baby’s umbilical cord is generally not too difficult, it just requires patience in caring for it until the umbilical cord is completely dissolved. Never force it to be removed even if it looks healed. The most important thing is to care for the baby’s umbilical cord properly, so that the umbilical cord can be removed and healed more quickly.
However, the baby needs to be checked by a pediatrician if the umbilical cord has not fallen off after 3-6 weeks. The reason is, this could be a sign of a health problem, such as an infection or immune system disorder.
