The first few weeks after your baby is born, you'll need to keep the stump of the umbilical cord clean and dry as it shrivels and eventually falls off.
Keep it clean
There is no need to use alcohol on the umbilical cord stump; just keep it clean. Also, keep the diaper folded below the cord to keep urine from soaking it.
You may notice a few drops of blood on the diaper around the time the stump falls off; this is normal. But if the cord actively bleeds, call your baby's doctor immediately. If the umbilical cord stump becomes infected (a condition called omphalitis), it will need medical treatment.
Umbilical cord infection
Although umbilical cord infections are uncommon, contact your pediatrician if you notice any of the following.
When should the umbilical cord stump fall off?
The umbilical cord stump should dry and fall off by the time your baby is 3 weeks old. If it is still there beyond that time, a doctor's visit is needed.
Umbilical granuloma
Sometimes instead of completely drying, the cord will form a granuloma. This is a small reddened or brownish mass of scar tissue that stays on the belly button after the umbilical cord has fallen off. This granuloma will drain a light-yellowish fluid.
What is the treatment for an umbilical granuloma?
An umbilical granuloma will usually go away in about a week. If it doesn't, your child's pediatrician may need to help dry or chemcially cauterize the granulomatous tissue.
Umbilical hernia
If your baby's umbilical cord area seems to push outward when they cry, they may have an
umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia is a small hole in the muscular part of the abdominal wall that allows the tissue to bulge out when there is increased abdominal pressure (from crying, for example).
What is the treatment for an umbilical hernia?
An umbilical hernia is not a serious condition; it usually heals by itself in the first 12 to 18 months.
In the unlikely event it doesn't heal by 3 to 5 years of age, the hole may need
surgery (a procedure called herniorraphy). Don't put tape or a coin on the navel (belly button). It will not help the hernia, and it may cause a skin rash.
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