One of the things that most concern parents, especially first-time parents, is how to cure the umbilical cord of the newborn.
When the baby is born, the umbilical cord that attached to the placenta is cut and a clamp is placed to prevent blood. The umbilical cord stump detaches from the belly of the newborn between the second and third week of life and takes 3 to 5 more days to heal the wound. There is no equal term for all babies, usually the cord of those born by caesarean section falls later.
In some children it can be detached on the fifth day while in others on the twentieth day of life. Both situations are absolutely normal. However, if more than a month passes and the cord has not yet fallen, you should consult with the pediatrician as it may be an abnormality in the navel of the newborn.
They deliver it to us with that piece of plastic holding a stump of yellowish gray color that some parents will keep as a treasure once it has fallen. But until the moment it comes off, let's see what are the specific care that the umbilical cord should receive.
How to clean it
Although there is a belief that the baby cannot be bathed until the cord has been detached, this is not true. Although the baby can be cleaned as in the cat wash, with a sponge and without the need to immerse it in a bathtub, there is no problem with wetting the cord whenever the belly button area is thoroughly dried.
It is important to try keep it always clean and dry to favor the fall and prevent infections, since the stump can become a focus of infection of the baby's body.
How to cure it
Regarding whether to use a product and which one to use to cure the baby's navel, there are different opinions. There are pediatricians who only recommend keeping it clean and dry, which is enough for it and one day it will fall anyway, while others suggest using antiseptics twice a day.
The most widespread product to cure the umbilical cord, however accessible and cheap, is the 70 degree alcohol. Normal alcohol is 90 degrees, but 70 is recommended because it is softer for the baby's delicate skin. The cord should be wrapped in sterile gauze soaked in alcohol. Better gauze than cotton because it can leave remains stuck and never apply alcohol directly on the baby's skin.
We have already talked about other products. For example, Mercurochrome and mercurobromo (red disinfectant liquid) can be used, but it is not the best. It is sometimes used in combination with alcohol, but should not be used simultaneously with products containing iodine. It is not the best choice because although in the amounts that is applied it is not toxic, it can cause skin sensitization and its color does not allow us to observe if the cord presents any abnormality.
Iodine products (povidone iodine) such as Betadine should not be used as they are not suitable for babies. They are absorbed through the skin and can cause thyroid problems and are therefore prohibited. Nor should sulfamide powders be used as they can produce eczema and do not prevent infection.
A disinfectant that can be used, as recommended by the Spanish Association of Pediatrics is, in addition to 70 degree alcohol, chlorohexidine, a transparent liquid suitable to prevent navel infection.
Care
Let the cord fall off on its own, never pull it even if it is subject to a very fine thread and we believe it is about to fall.
Once the cord has been dropped, the area should continue to be cleaned until it is completely dry.
When placing the diaper, ensure that the cord and the clamp are covered to prevent it from catching with the clothes or when lifting the baby.
Alarm signs
Although it is normal that there is a slight bleeding of the umbilical cord of the newborn the first few days and then when it falls, we must watch it because there are certain signs that can indicate that something is not going well.
A small bleeding may be due to the rubbing of the diaper, but it is not normal, for example, an active bleeding that soaks the gauze. A hemorrhage, pus and swelling in the navel area are reason for consultation with the pediatrician.
Likewise, if it presents a yellowish or smelly discharge or redness and tenderness of the skin around the cord, they can be signs of an omphalitis or umbilical infection.
