Umbilical Cord Care

So your baby is finally here, now begins your next journey, caring properly for your little one.
I'm going to talk to you a little about tending to the umbilical cord, something I believe can be tricky the first six weeks your baby is in the world.

As much as we would all love for the little umbilical cord to be gone, don't try to speed up the process. It used to be said that your baby's umbilical cord should be cleaned carefully with alcohol, but it has been found that this may destroy some of the crucial cells that surround the cord and therefore is better to leave the umbilical cord alone until it falls off. Also, it may even fall off faster by leaving the stump alone.

Don't be alarmed if a little bleeding or oozing of liquid is seen, this is often normal and this usually means the umbilical cord stump must heal itself. Although, if you do notice that the stump is causing pain for your little one, or redness is seen around the area you should consult your pediatrician.

The umbilical cord should fall off by itself in approximately two to three weeks, until then, it is recommended to use warm water without soap to wipe down your baby versus an actual bath. It is also recommended that you try to fold the diapers down away from the cord stump so that your baby will not experience any irritation at the site.

Following these simple steps can make a world of a difference for you and your new baby.