What is the umbilical cord?
The umbilical cord is a tube that connects the mother to the fetus during pregnancy. It has three blood vessels: a vein that carries food and oxygen from the placenta to the baby, and two arteries that carry waste from the baby back to the placenta.
The umbilical cord is necessary for the baby's survival during pregnancy. However, it is no longer needed once the baby is born. Within a few minutes after birth, this "cord" is tightened and cut near the navel. A clamp is placed on the umbilical cord before it is cut. The clamp helps stop bleeding from the umbilical cord's three blood vessels—two arteries and one vein. The clamp can be removed when the cord is dry, before the baby leaves the clinic.
The part of the umbilical cord that remains in the baby (the stump) will fall out on its own within the next 10 to 20 days. It is very important until then to follow specific care instructions to avoid possible infections:
- Clean the navel topically with alcohol 70% at least 2 times a day
- Keep the navel area dry. Fold the top of the diaper down.
- Change your baby's diaper often, with every feeding. A wet diaper on the stump prevents drying and increases the risk of infection
- When the stump falls out, you may notice a small pink area below the belly button. This is to be expected and normal skin will grow over it.
- Don't pull the stump yourself, even if it's just hanging by a thread.
- In case of suspicion of incipient inflammation locally mupirocin or fucidic acid and antisepsis with betadine
Call the pediatrician if you notice any of the following signs of an infection in the belly button:
- Swelling or redness around the navel
- Heat in the area
- Sensitivity to touch
- Bad smell
- Pus (yellow or white discharge)
- Bleeding from the end of the cord or the area near the skin
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