Remember, you do not need to put any creams on the umbilical stump or cover it with a bandage. The best thing you can do is to let it heal on its own. It is also not advisable to use alcoholic wipes on the stump as this can cause irritation to the surrounding skin and delay the healing process.
Keep the front of your baby’s diaper folded down to avoid covering the stump. Stick with sponge baths. While there’s no harm in getting the stump wet, sponge baths might make it easier to keep the stump dry. Let the stump fall off on its own.
Many diapers for newborns are cut lower at the front, so do not cover the belly button area. However, where this is not the case, fold the diaper down in the front so that it does not touch the stump or surrounding area.
Despite common folklore, you can’t flatten an outie by strapping something across your baby’s belly or by taping a quarter over it. In fact, there’s nothing you can (or should) do to change an outie. Instead, as your child grows, help them understand that it’s just another way a body can look.
Normal Navel Care:
- Keep the navel (belly button) clean and dry.
- If there are any secretions, clean them away. Use a wet cotton swab. Then, dry carefully.
- Do this gently to prevent any bleeding.
- Caution: Don’t use any rubbing alcohol. Reason: can interfere with healing.
How long does it take for the belly button to heal after the umbilical cord falls off? The skin underneath the stump may be a little red when the dried stump first falls off, but it should soon heal—usually within two weeks.
Antibiotic Ointment for Pus:
- If any pus is present, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin).
- No prescription is needed.
- Put a tiny amount on the belly button.
- Do this 2 times per day after the area has been cleaned.
- Do this for 2 days. After that, use the antibiotic ointment only if you see more pus.
If the cord smells bad or seems infected, you can smear a little antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin®) around and on the base of the cord. You can clean the cord as often as needed, perhaps 3 or 4 times a day.
How long will it take for the belly button to heal? After the stump falls off there will be a small wound. It may take between seven days and 10 days for the area to heal completely . You may see a little blood spot on your baby’s nappy.
What should baby wear before umbilical cord falls off?
The cord must dry out before it can fall off. In warm weather, have your baby wear just a diaper and loose T-shirt to let air circulate and speed the drying process. Avoid dressing your baby in bodysuit-style undershirts until the cord has fallen off.
Once a baby is born, they can breathe, eat, and get rid of waste on their own, so the umbilical cord is cut off. Left behind are a couple of inches of umbilical cord called the stump, which will slowly dry and fall off like a scab. Below that scab is what will become your baby’s own belly button.
Should an outie be corrected? An outie belly button is a cosmetic issue and doesn’t require surgery. Granulomas need to be treated to avoid infection. Hernias usually disappear on their own and those that don’t can be treated with a simple surgical procedure after the age of 4 or 5.
About 20 percent of all newborns have an “outie,” also called an umbilical hernia. This is a bulge caused by the umbilical cord as it enters the baby’s abdomen. After birth, as the umbilical cord heals and falls off, the opening to the abdomen usually closes spontaneously.
How do you know if umbilical cord is wrapped around baby?
Signs The Umbilical Cord Is Around Baby’s Neck
- It’s visible via ultrasound. …
- Baby is suddenly moving less in the last weeks of your pregnancy. …
- Baby suddenly moves forcefully, then moves considerably less. …
- Baby’s heart rate is decelerating during labor.
Dip a cotton swab in warm water. Squeeze the tip to remove the excess water. Gently clean around the base of the cord and then the surrounding skin, then hold the stump with a clean absorbent cloth to dry it completely. It is important that the umbilical cord remain clean and dry until it falls off naturally.
Can a baby’s umbilical cord get infected?
In most cases, the umbilical cord stump dries up and falls off the newborn within the first few weeks of life. But sometimes an infection can develop. This may cause the area around the cord to swell and become inflamed, red, or tender. There may be cloudy, discolored, or bad-smelling discharge from the cord.