Baby’s UMBILICAL cord
What is the umbilical cord?
The umbilical cord is what allows baby to be fed and oxygenated during pregnancy. Made of blood ships, he connects the fetus to his mom’s placenta.
From the cord to the belly button
At birth, the doctor places two clips on the umbilical cord to cut off traffic, before cutting it off.
It will be cut off a second time to an inch of the belly button during first aid and maintained by a clamp, a special clip, which will be removed on the baby’s 2th or 3th day of life.
There will still be a little piece of the cord, which will dry and black in a few days, then end up falling to leave a nice belly button at your little end.
The fall of the cord takes between 3 and 15 days. It takes the same time or even longer for the belly button to dry and heal.
Baby umbilical cord: what care?
Some specific care is needed until the cord has fallen and the belly button is not healed.
Keep the cord clean and dry so it doesn’t get infected.
Clean it once a day using sterile sterile pads of physiological serum. Make sure to dry it well. Remember to clean and disinfect your hands before, with a hydro solution.
Apply 1 to 2 times a day of eosin, an antiseptic solution to drying properties
Fall back the belly part of the layer under the umbilicus so that urine does not come to stain it. Your baby’s diaper should not cover or rub her cord.
Don’t shoot the cord, even if it starts to take off. He will fall on his own.
Once the rest of the cord fell
Apply with a cotton-stem antiseptic that does not sting (alcohol-free) and then of at the bottom of the belly button, from which you will have removed the edges with your fingers.
Once the belly button is healed
In the first few months, a small crust can build up at the bottom of the belly button, which can make the toilet harder.
Remove it from time to time with the tip of your nail (clean).
When should I be worried?
To avoid bad surprises, carefully watch the area of the cord (then belly button).
Consult your pediatrician if:
the skin around the cord looks red and / or swollen.
the umbilicus let the yellow pus flow,
The umbilicus produces an unpleasant odor.
These may be signs of infection.
The cord fell but the belly button is still oozes and a of flesh bud formed? Go see your pediatrician.
He will apply silver nitrate for the cauterize. Don’t worry, a completely painless act for baby!