10 Ways to Care for a Newborn Umbilical Cord are listed and discussed one by one in this article for your perusal.
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After the birth of the baby, for a period of one to three weeks, the mother or medical personnel should consider this as being very sensitive. This article will explain ways to care for a newborn umbilical cord.
1. Keep the umbilical cord stump very neat.
Some nursing mothers have been made to believe that to keep the umbilical cord very clean, one must rub alcohol and this was traditionally practiced in the 18th and the 19th century as the majority of the nursing mothers had little or no knowledge about the stump.
Doctors in the 20th and 21st centuries advised that the stump can be safeguarded and allowed to be. Medical professionals usually advise that it is necessary to keep the umbilical very clean.
If the umbilical cord is not clean such that it is Indecent, it can tend to have an offensive odor which will lead to infection within a short period.
2. Keep the umbilical cord very dry
It implies having no or very little water or liquid in the umbilical cord such that it is no longer wet. If it is a rainy season, it should not be exposed to rain or little drops of water. “dry cord care,” is essentially a way of taking care of a newborn umbilical cord by simply allowing air to reach or touch the cord stump.
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Many nursing mothers often make the mistake of applying excessive baby ointment on the umbilical cord while some even cover it in water.
These measures are taken due to ignorance or inadequate knowledge of how to care for the umbilical cord as such they should not be practiced at all.
3. Avoid irritation
Nursing mothers should shun any activity that can make or cause any condition of irritability, soreness, roughness, or inflammation of the body’s bodily part especially the stump or the area around the umbilical cord.
4. Use good and sizable diapers
Use newborn diapers and comfortable diapers for the baby. Do not use oversized diapers that could touch the stump. It is proper to avoid the newborn’s diapers from even rubbing or touching against the stump. This can be avoided by simply folding the top of the diaper down under the umbilical cord.
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5. Get rid of and Examine any signs of infection
This is the frequency inspection of the umbilical cord by carefully clearing any liquid oozing from the stump. As a nursing mother, you may properly notice some drops of blood but not a flow of blood.
This is normal including scabbing as it is a hard covering of dried blood that forms over a wound to cover and protect it as it heals over time.
6. Don’t pick at the stump.
Most first-time nursing mothers make the mistake of picking or pulling the umbilical cord stump. Just let it be.
7. Endure there is no excessive bleeding
If you notice any excessive amount of blood flowing in the umbilical cord stump, please call a doctor immediately. As earlier stated a few drops of blood are permitted especially when the stump eventually falls off.
In cases where the blood acts as a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound or the area around the umbilical cord stump, it can be considered very normal and if otherwise, please pay close attention to the stump.
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8. Avoid tapping or closing the umbilical area with a coin
Many nursing mothers have been made to believe that tapping the navel area down or even placing a coin on the stump will automatically alter the shape.
It is a myth and can lead to the development of either a minor or a major injury around the umbilical cord area or even develop a condition called an umbilical hernia.
9. Use sponge baths to clean the baby
The use of a sponge bath will help to keep the umbilical cord stump stay dry.
10. Gently touch the stump
Another important way of taking care of a newborn umbilical cord is to apply so much care and gentle care to the stump until the baby’s umbilical cord stump dries out and gradually falls off.
Conclusion
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Taking care of a newborn umbilical cord is very important as any negligence of the stump can lead to an infected or contaminated umbilical cord stump and can make the baby develop a fever. Also if any abnormality is noticed around the umbilical cord please inform your doctor immediately.
