The newborn's belly button has not fallen off for more than 20 days

We all know that when the baby is in the mother's body, it communicates with the mother through the umbilical cord. It is also this umbilical cord that provides nutrition and helps the baby breathe. So when the baby is born, the doctor cuts the umbilical cord, and the baby will cry for the first time. The extra umbilical cord will fall off automatically and slowly coagulate, so bacteria will not enter. So why does the newborn's belly button not fall off after 20 days?

My baby's belly button hasn't fallen off after 20 days. What's going on?

The nutrition for the fetus is supplied by the mother through the navel and the fetus has to pass through the necessary channel to excrete waste. Under normal circumstances, the umbilical cord will naturally shrink within 24 to 48 hours after birth, begin to fall off within 3 to 4 days, and heal on its own within 10 to 15 days. After the umbilical cord of a newborn baby is tied, the blood vessels in the umbilical pit have not yet completely closed. In addition, water is prone to accumulate in the umbilical pit and is not easy to dry. Therefore, it is easy for bacteria to breed and cause infection, and in severe cases, sepsis may even occur. If the baby's umbilical cord hasn't fallen off by 20 days, it's normal. Most of it will have fallen off in 1 to 2 weeks. But if it still hasn't fallen off by the time it's one month old, you should go to the hospital for treatment.

How to care for your newborn's umbilical cord

1. Before the umbilical cord falls off: After 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. Therefore, the disinfection and care of the umbilical cord is very important.

2. After the umbilical cord falls off: There will often be a small amount of exudate in the navel fossa after the umbilical cord falls off. At this time, you can use a 75% alcohol cotton swab to clean the navel fossa, and then cover it with sterilized gauze. As long as the baby's belly button has healed, he can take a bath in water. Because the baby has been in the water since birth, mommies, don't worry!

Why doesn’t my baby’s belly button fall off after 20 days? From the above we can see that we don’t have to worry. As long as we protect the baby’s umbilical cord, the baby’s umbilical cord will fall off naturally. However, if the baby’s belly button still does not fall off after the baby is one month old, we need to take the baby to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. So please rest assured, mothers, it is normal for your baby’s belly button not to fall off after 20 days. Finally, I wish all babies and families good health and happiness.