What to do if the baby's umbilical cord becomes suppurative

When a baby comes into this world, it brings some joy to the family, but it also often leaves many family members helpless, not knowing how to take better care of the baby. Every baby has to go through the process of umbilical cord falling off, but there will always be some problems in this process. Among them, umbilical cord suppuration is a common one. If such symptoms occur, we must deal with them in time. Let us learn about what to do if the baby's umbilical cord suppuration occurs.

What to do if the baby's umbilical cord becomes suppurative:

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The umbilical cord is the channel for the fetus to absorb nutrients and excrete metabolites from the mother. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord loses its significance and gradually falls off from the root. When the umbilical cord is cut, a wound is formed, which is an important portal for bacteria to invade the newborn's body. In mild cases, it can cause omphalitis, and in severe cases, it often leads to sepsis and death, so umbilical cord care is very important. ?

How important is umbilical cord care?

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Under normal circumstances, the umbilical cord falls off 3-7 days after birth. But before the umbilical cord falls off, the navel can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria. After the umbilical cord is tied, an umbilical blood vessel is left broken. If the umbilical cord is infected, bacteria and their toxins enter the broken umbilical blood vessel and enter the blood circulation, causing bacteremia. Newborns have low immune function, and bacteremia can quickly develop into sepsis or even septicemia. Therefore, it is very important to care for the stump of the umbilical cord. ??

What are the specific practices for umbilical cord care?

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There is often secretion in the umbilical cord of a newborn. When the secretion dries, the umbilical cord and the root of the umbilical cord will adhere to each other, making it difficult to clean and pus may appear in the umbilical cord. Therefore, you should thoroughly clean the navel. ??

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The specific method can be done as follows:

Dip a cotton swab in 75% alcohol every day, gently lift the ligature of the umbilical cord with one hand, and use the alcohol swab with the other hand to carefully wipe the navel fossa and the root of the umbilical cord so that the umbilical cord is no longer adhered to the navel fossa. Then, use a new alcohol swab to wipe in circles from the center of the navel to the outside. After cleaning, don't forget to disinfect the ligature with alcohol. ??

Three principles of umbilical cord care?

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First, keep it dry. The baby's umbilical cord should be kept dry before it falls off. Especially if the base of the umbilical cord is accidentally wetted during bathing, it should be wiped clean with a clean cotton swab before performing umbilical cord care. ??

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Second, avoid friction. The diaper should be of appropriate size, and the waist of the diaper should never be placed at the base of the umbilical cord. This will easily cause friction to the base of the umbilical cord when the baby moves, causing skin breakage, redness, and even bleeding. ??

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Third, avoid stuffiness. Never apply creams, lotions or oils to the base of the umbilical cord, as this may prevent the cord from drying out and may even lead to infection. ??

Five details of umbilical cord care?

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First, be sure to wash your hands when caring for the umbilical cord area to prevent bacteria on your hands from infecting the baby's navel. ????Second, when bathing your baby, do not let the umbilical cord get wet before it falls off. If you take your baby swimming during the newborn stage, be sure to use waterproof stickers. ??

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Third, the umbilical cord and the skin around it should be kept dry and clean, especially the diaper should not cover the navel to avoid contaminating the navel wound with urine or feces. ??

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Fourth, never use gentian violet. Some babies' belly buttons do not fall off for a long time, or pus forms after falling off. Some elderly people use gentian violet to wipe the baby's umbilical cord in order to dry it. This method was often used in the past, but it is not recommended in medicine now because the drying effect of gentian violet is limited to the surface, while the drying effect of alcohol dries from the inside out.

After understanding what to do if the baby's umbilical cord is suppurated, parents should not always panic when such symptoms occur, especially postpartum mothers must keep a calm mind. If symptoms of anxiety occur, it will also affect the secretion of breast milk. The baby's umbilical cord suppuration must be taken seriously. Pay more attention to disinfecting the baby's umbilical cord and maintain a good sanitary environment.