Care of the umbilical cord is one of the important things new parents have difficulty with. The delicate nature of the cord, the blood and pus associated with it and the apprehension that the baby any handling is painful for the baby is a major cause of concern.

What is the Umbilical cord? Why is it there in the first place and why the clip over it?

This umbilical cord is what actually connects the mother to the baby during pregnancy. The umbilical cord which originates in the abdomen of the baby is connected to the placenta which in turn is connected to the uterus. This cord contains blood vessels which carry blood containing nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the baby and waste and carbon dioxide from the mother to the baby.

After birth all these functions are done by the baby itself and then there is no requirement of the placenta and the umbilical cord. This cord is clamped so there is no blood oozing for the blood vessels in the cord and is cut. (thereby separating the placenta and the baby). This cord clamp (the clip over your little one’s cord) keeps the vessels closed till the cord does not dry off. The small cord left behind is the cord stump. And the best part is all this is painless.

How long is the umbilical cord stump going to be there?

The umbilical cord usually falls of by 10-14 days of life. In very few babies it may take up to 21 days for the cord to fall off.

How do I take care of the cord stump at home?

You need to take care to keep the cord clean. Antiseptic or alcohol rubs are not required to clean the cord. If your baby has had a bath pat dry the cord. Let the cord be in open air to dry off the water. Unlit and unless you are not rubbing the cord or irritating it, it is completely painless
(You may be interested on the topic: When to give my newborn the first bath?)

Fold the diaper away from the cord and let make sure the cord clamp does not come to lie inside the diaper. It may pull the cord and cause irritation.
Never pull the cord. Resist all temptation to pull and detach the cord even if it is just attached at a point. Let the cord dry off and fall by its self.

What to do after the cord falls off?

After the cord fall you may notice a bit of bleeding of a bit of yellowish fluid over the umbilicus. Clean the blood and any other secretion which may be there and leave it to dry.

When do I consult a doctor if I feel that the cord or my baby does not seem right?

When in doubt its always better to consult your paediatrician/neonatologist
How ever if your baby has any of the danger signs then please contact your paediatrician/neonatologist immediately.
Umbilical cord stump can get infected and you need to look for signs which indicated it and if present consult your paediatrician/neonatologist immediately

What are the signs of stump infection that I can look for?

You need to look for general signs of sepsis such as fever, lethargy, poor feeding, poor muscle tone or any of the danger signs.

Look for foul smelling yellow discharge for the cord stump.
Look for any redness and hardness around the cord stump base.
If your baby cries out when you touch the cord it can be an indication for infection
If any of the above is present, then it could be due to infection and you need to consult your paediatrician/neonatologist immediately.