Whats The Deal With A Baby Belly Button
If youve given birth, been present at one, or even just watched a scene including one on TV, then youre familiar with the part when the new babys umbilical cord is clamped and snipped. This results in a stump which starts drying out and eventually falls off in one to three weeks. As a new parent, you may be tempted to pull the stump off yourself . As tempting as it may be, though, resist the urge to pull or pick at that stump, Mama. It may look gross, but itll fall off on its own schedule. What you can and should do during those first few weeks is keep the stump dry, including by sticking to sponge baths.
Caring For Your Babys Umbilical Cord Stump And Belly Button
After your baby is born, your midwife or doctor will clamp and then cut the umbilical cord. After it is cut, a small amount of the cord will remain attached to your babys belly button this will be about two to three centimetres long and is known as the cord stump.
Over the next seven to 14 days, the stump will get darker, dry out, shrivel and will eventually fall off. There will be a small wound remaining, which will heal and become your babys belly button. Here are some easy care tips for your childs umbilical stump before it falls off and their belly button after the stump falls off.
What Does The Umbilical Cord Look Like
The umbilical cord is a flexible, tube-like structure that has a spongy appearance. A jelly-like substance surrounds the cord. After childbirth, your provider will clamp the cord and then cut it, leaving a stump behind. Between one to three weeks, the stump dries up and falls off. As the stump dries, it shrinks and changes in color from yellowish-green to brown to black before falling off.
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What Is A Baby Belly Button Hernia
An umbilical hernia is pretty common. This is when the childs intestines seep through the abdominal wall, inside where the belly button is. It may look unusual, but it isnt painful or a threat to a babys health. Umbilical hernias usually go away at ages four to five. However, if it lingers longer, some doctors may suggest surgery.
Caring For The Umbilical Cord
Wash the cord stump as part of your babys usual bathing routine.
Make sure you wash your hands first. Use only water and cotton pads, and dry it carefully. If wee or poo gets on the stump, you can use a mild soap to help clean it off. You dont need to use antiseptics and alcohol.
Let the cord sit out of the nappy so it dries out in the air this can be done by folding the nappy under the cord stump. There is no need to cover the cord stump with Band-Aids or bandages, as this stops airflow around the stump.
If youre not washing the cord stump, try not to handle it.
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What You Need To Know:
· Most umbilical cord stumps look worse than they are. Right after birth, an umbilical cord stump usually looks white and shiny and may feel slightly damp. As the stump dries and heals, it may look brown, grey, or even black. This is normal. Usually, no problems will occur as long as you keep the area clean and dry.
· The umbilical cord stump usually falls off in 1 or 2 weeks. Sometimes the stump falls off before the first week. Other times, the stump may stay longer.
· You may notice a red, raw-looking spot right after the stump falls off. A small amount of fluid, sometimes tinged with blood, may ooze out of the navel area. It is usual for this to last up to 2 weeks after the stump falls off. If it doesnt heal or dry entirely within two weeks, call your doctor or nurses call line.
Umbilical Polyps And Cysts
In addition to blood vessels, the umbilical cord contains tubes that help a baby get rid of waste. Sometimes the connection between these tubes and the babys intestines or bladder doesnt close completely. So growths like umbilical polyps and cysts develop.
A surgeon can remove polyps and cysts with a short procedure.
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How Do You Clean A Baby Belly Button
Its important to keep a newborn babys umbilical stump dry, as well as clean. But instead of washing it regularly, do what you can to keep it from getting dirty. And because the stump falls off once its dry, keep the stump from getting and staying wet. If the stump does end up getting wet, gently pat it dry using a clean baby washcloth. A cotton swab is also an option, but make sure that you dont rub or poke the stump too aggressively, so it doesnt fall off before its time. As we mentioned above, sponge baths are the way to go while the stump is still around.
Once the stump detaches from your newborn babys little body, keeping their belly button clean is relatively straightforward. You can start giving them regular baths, during which you just need to use the edge of a washcloth to gently clean inside the belly button. Just dont scrub too hard or use soap. And theres no need to clean a babys belly button any more frequently than they bathe. Thats basically it! Well, you know, besides breathing a big sigh of relief once the stump finally falls off.
What Are Signs That There May Be A Problem
Most umbilical cord stumps fall off on their own without any problems. Rarely, a stump can become infected or fails to fall off on its own. Here are some reasons you should contact your babys doctor:
- Signs of infection, including redness around the base of the stump or foul-smelling discharge
- Your baby cries when that area is touched
- The area continues to bleed after the cord falls off
- The stump hasnt fallen off after three or four weeks
If you have questions or concerns, dont hesitate to reach out to your Methodist Physicians Clinic pediatrician.
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Cleaning Your Baby Step 1
Prepare everything Do not leave your babies on top of a changing table or near water unattended. Make sure you gather all there is to use before prepping the baby for a bath. Before the umbilical cord stump fell off, the baby could only take sponge baths to avoid getting the stump wet. Now, the babys ready for a regular bath. For first time parents, bath time can be quite tricky. heres a list of what you need:
- Washcloth Make sure its soft so as to avoid irritating the babys skin.
- Baby soap/shampoo Use the mild formula for both.
- Towel Again, make sure the strands are soft enough to prevent scratching the babys sensitive skin.
- Shallow sink or Baby tub Fill it with 2 to 3 inches of warm water. Always have one hand free to hold the baby, particularly the head.
Umbilical Cord Care In Newborns
Cord – umbilical Neonatal care – umbilical cord
The umbilical cord connects the baby to the mother’s placenta. During fetal development in the womb, the umbilical cord is the lifeline to the baby supplying nutrients. After birth, the cord is clamped and cut. Eventually between 1 to 3 weeks the cord will become dry and will naturally fall off. During the time the cord is healing it should be kept as clean and as dry as possible.
A sponge bath is the best way to clean your baby until the umbilical cord falls off. To give a sponge bath, dip a soft cloth in the warm water and wring out the excess. If needed, a mild soap can be used in the water. Wipe the baby’s skin gently starting from the area of the baby’s head and work your way down to the rest of the body. Pay special attention to the skin creases and diaper area. Rinse your baby with clean warm water and dry him or her completely.
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Why Do You Have To Be Aware Of The Navel
The detachment process and the remainder of the cord is natural and normally occurs without infection . On average, the cord comes off eight to ten days after delivery . Sometimes it takes a little longer. As the piece is held by a clamp, it is best to surround it with gauze.
BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR CURES SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT PER DAY
After the cord falls, the navel is sometimes outward by 5 to 15 millimeters. It is called the cutaneous navel and it will go inwards: sometimes it takes several months.
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How Do You Clean A Belly Button After The Stump Falls Off
You may hear that you should apply alcohol to the area or do other things to help the belly button heal. However, according to studies, there is no reason to do anything other than clean around the belly button with water during bath time and give it plenty of air.
As long as babys belly button is gently wiped with a clean wet cloth, it will heal just fine on its own and doesnt require soaps, alcohol or any other products.
If your doctor suggests using silver nitrate, it best to do your own research and ask what other options are available first, as this can lead to chemical burns if not applied correctly.
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Tip #: Inspect The Area Carefully
Usually, after the umbilical cord falls off, the belly button will look almost like a small open wound. As mentioned previously, newborn belly button healing should be left to heal naturally. Keeping the area dry and exposed to air will speed up the healing. Still, you would want to look out for immediate signs of umbilical cord infection in your babys belly button. This is much less likely to happen than when the umbilical cord stump was still attached.
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Warning Signs Of Umbilical Cord Infection
Signs of an umbilical cord infection may include if your babys umbilical cord stump:
- appears red or swollen in the surrounding area
- has a strong odor
- is streaked with red around the navel, or is discharging fluid
While its normal for a few drops of blood to appear when the stump separates, if you notice any of these signs of infection, call your babys pediatrician.
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Be Cautious While Dressing Your Baby:
The belly button is the most delicate part in your babys body. At the same time it is a hindrance when you dress up your baby or make him wear diapers.
- Always make your little one wear the diaper in such a way that the cord stump remains in the air and is not hassled by anything.
- Take care while dressing your baby and keep the area as much open as you can.
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Caring For Babys Umbilical Cord Stump
Here are a few things to keep in mind until the cord comes off:
- Be gentle. Keep your hands off of it, and donât ever pull on it.
- Keep the cord clean and dry at all times. Skip the tub and sink and give your baby sponge baths instead.
- Leave the cord alone until it falls off by itself.
- Fold diapers so that they rest below the cord to shield it from your little oneâs pee. You can look for diapers that have an area cut out for the cord or cut a spot out of a regular diaper. Just place a piece of tape around it to seal the edges.
If your baby has a messy bowel movement and some stool gets on the cord, clean it gently with soap and water.
Check the cord often for infections. Call your doctor if you see:
- Blood on the end of the cord
- A white or yellow discharge
- Swelling or redness around the cord
- Signs that the area around the cord causes your baby pain
If your baby had a low birth weight because they were born prematurely or had another health issue, they may be more likely to have an infection, so itâs good to keep an especially close eye out for any of these signs.
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How Do I Care For My Babys Belly Button After The Umbilical Cord Falls Off
Your childs belly button might bleed a little when the cord falls off. Bleeding is similar to a scab falling off and light bleeding is normal. If your child bleeds continuously when their cord falls off, visit the emergency room.
A couple of days after the stump falls off your baby, continue giving them a sponge bath to make sure the entire cord removed itself and there is no bleeding from the area. Then, you can let your baby take a bath in a tub.
Can I throw away my babys umbilical cord stump when it falls off?
Yes, you can dispose of your babys umbilical cord stump after it falls off.
Fixing An Outie Belly Button Without Surgery
The separation of a persons outermost abdominal muscles is known as diastasis recti. The main function of the abdominal muscle called rectus abdominis is to provide support to our organs and back. To provide a string build or stature these muscles must remain close together.
When these muscles separate due to some unprecedented reason then the connective tissue linea alba which joins these muscles becomes loose and stretches sideways. As the muscles stretch sideways the build becomes thinner and weaker and can no longer support the organs and the belly button. This results in an outie belly button.
A diastasis can be treated and closed by anyone at any time. The main way to treat and close a diastasis is to let the connective tissue healing. This healing rate of the connective tissue varies from person to person. It depends completely on the condition of that persons connective tissue. If a person has weak connective tissue then it will take a longer time to heal and vice-versa.
When the connective tissue heals then it becomes thicker and stronger again. As a result,lt it can provide support to the belly button again. People are recommended to do this process before going for surgery.
If this process does not work then they can go for surgery. Mostly it is seen that if this program is done then that person does not need to go through surgery. This will further develop an individual transverse strength and ability of their abdominal muscles.
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Causes Of Outie Belly Button
There are various physiological and pathological causes why an individual may have an outie belly button. As mentioned earlier, an outie belly button is not the outcome of how it was cut or the incompetence of a doctor. Having an outie belly button is completely normal and is not a medical concern. Most of the time it is seen that if a person wants to get rid of an outie belly button then that is because of cosmetic purposes.
In the case of infants, an outie belly button may be seen due to some pathological causes. These are mentioned and described below:
Caring For A Newborn Belly Button
The best way to care for an umbilical cord stump is to keep it clean and dry until it falls off on its own.
To keep it clean, you dont need to wash it regularly. Instead, you should avoid getting it dirty.
Keeping the stump dry is the best way to promote healthy healing and a natural break off.
Here are some tips for newborn belly button care:
- If the cord gets wet, gently pat it dry with a clean baby washcloth. You can also try using a Q-tip, but avoid being too aggressive or rubbing the stump off. You dont want the stump to be pulled off before its ready.
- Fold down the top of your babys diaper to keep it away from the stump. Some newborn diapers come with a little scoop in the design to prevent the diaper from rubbing against the stump.
- Use clean cotton clothing on your newborn and their healing belly button. Its ok to pull light clothing over the stump, but avoid anything too tight, or fabrics that dont breathe well.
Sponge baths are best as you wait for the umbilical cord stump to fall off on its own, because you can easily avoid washing the area around the stump.
Ask your doctor how frequently you should wash your baby. Their skin is sensitive and doesnt need to be cleaned every day.
To bathe a baby with their stump still attached:
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How Long Does It Take For The Umbilical Cord Stump To Fall Off
The umbilical cord stump usually falls off in one to three weeks after birth. Talk to your doctor if the cord stump has not fallen off within three weeks, as this could be a sign of an underlying problem.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for any sign of infection, an uncommon occurrence. If you spot pus, bleeding, swelling, or discoloration, call your doctor right away.
When the belly button has totally healed, the stump will easily fall off on its own. Some parents save the stump as a nostalgic reminder of the babys connection to mom.
After the stump falls off, it wont take long for the belly button to look like a belly button. There may be some blood or scabbing still, since the cord is like a scab.
Never pick at your newborns belly button or cord stump as this could introduce infection or irritate the area. Youll be able to see that cute tummy soon enough.