How to care for your baby after the umbilical cord falls off

I think the happiest moment for every family is when a new life is born. Babies are the angels of every family and the most precious treasures of every parent, so families will always treat their babies with great care and regard them as precious. Therefore, many new parents will prepare necessities such as clothes, milk powder, and bottles before the child is born, and they will also seek advice from others, for fear that they will not take good care of the baby. What I want to share with you today is what to do after the baby’s umbilical cord falls off. I believe this is also something that many first-time parents are very concerned about and want to know. I hope it will be helpful to you.

1 to 2 days after the umbilical cord falls off, you will see that the baby's navel is moister and the skin around the navel is normal. This is a normal phenomenon. If the navel is still moist after two days, you should pay attention to whether there is infection. You can use hydrogen peroxide to rinse the baby's navel, wipe it dry, apply 75% alcohol, and then dehydrate and dry it with 95% alcohol. If there is purulent discharge from the umbilicus, you need to see a doctor. The umbilical cord is a pathway connecting the fetus and the mother. The fetus obtains nutrition from the mother through the umbilical cord, which promotes the development of the fetus.

When the baby is born, the umbilical cord has completed its historical mission, so it needs to be cut and tied. Because doctors use different ligation methods, the time it takes for the umbilical cord to fall off varies slightly. It usually takes 3 to 7 days for the umbilical cord to dry and fall off naturally. In some cases, it can be extended to about 2 weeks. The upper end of the umbilical cord gradually dries and forms a scab, but since there is often serous secretion in the umbilical fossa, you should pay attention to protecting the child's umbilical cord in daily care. When putting a diaper on your baby, the upper edge of the diaper should be placed below the navel to prevent the baby's urine from soaking the umbilical cord and causing infection.

Do not wet the umbilical cord when bathing the child. Disinfect the navel with a 75% ethanol cotton swab twice a day, and be sure to disinfect the umbilical cord thoroughly. Because the serous secretions of the umbilicus are the best culture medium for bacteria, it is easy to become infected and purulent, causing umbilical cellulitis and even sepsis. The umbilical cord should fall off naturally. Even if it is still attached, do not use external force to force it to fall off, as this can easily form a wound, which can easily lead to secondary infection or bleeding if not handled properly.

If there is secretion in the navel, do not apply gentian violet solution. Although it is an external medicine with strong bactericidal power, an umbilical scab will form quickly on the upper end of the umbilical cord after applying gentian violet, which will often cover up the purulent secretions under the umbilical scab. Generally, the umbilical cord will fall off in about a week, and the baby will cry because of the pain. The mother must pay attention and observe the baby carefully.

The above is how to deal with the detachment of the umbilical cord of a newborn. I hope it can be helpful to everyone. Moreover, babies are particularly delicate, so parents need to be very careful and attentive, and must not be careless.