After working in obstetrics and gynecology for more than 20 years, I will always meet some novice parents who make people laugh and cry, and I will always answer some questions that I can’t get bored with thousands of times. Baby navel care is one of them.
Doctor, after my baby was discharged from hospital, there was a [boil] in the umbilicus, which grew well every day. But one day, suddenly the [boil] fell off, and I didn’t know what to do. Then I stuffed the [boil] back into my navel…
Doctor, the clip on my baby’s navel has been removed. This thing on my navel is too hard and will scratch my baby’s skin. Please trim it with scissors for us…
Every time I encounter these problems, my heart collapses. But in retrospect, wasn’t it the same for my first time as a mother?
Let’s talk about the baby’s umbilical cord, hoping that novice parents can take fewer detours.
First, umbilical cord stump, baby will have injuries
Before the baby is born, the umbilical cord is the life link between the mother and the baby. Babies get nutrition through blood vessels in the umbilical cord.
Once the baby is born, the baby will be independent and can no longer rely on the umbilical cord for nutrition. At this time, the medical staff will cut the umbilical cord and tie it up with the umbilical cord clamp or valve core.
For babies who use umbilical cord clips, the medical staff will take out the clips in about 48 hours, leaving a compressed dry umbilical cord. At this time, the umbilical stump will become dry and hard, and about 2 ~ 3 cm higher than the skin.
However, the umbilicus ligated with the valve core does not need to take out the valve core, and the umbilicus is relatively humid as the baby’s umbilicus fossa sinks inward.
After ligation, although the umbilical cord is closed, there will still be a small amount of secretions and blood. At the same time, the umbilical cord stump is also a small wound, which needs time to heal and good care to prevent infection.
Second, the two principles of nursing, cleaning and drying
Under normal circumstances, the umbilical cord will become smaller and smaller after drying up, and eventually become a small foreign body like a boil. The time for the boil to fall off from the umbilicus is usually within 2 weeks, and some may be longer. Don’t plug it back after falling off. If it hasn’t fallen off in 2 months, you have to let the doctor have a look.
Before falling off, the mother must give the baby good care. WHO recommends that the daily care method is [natural drying method], that is, clean and dry with clear water, keep dry and do not apply disinfectant. Because WHO believes that in developed areas, such care methods will not increase the risk of infection and can shorten the time for wound healing.
However, at present, for the sake of reducing the risk of infection, most hospitals in China still recommend disinfection cotton swabs for umbilicus with secretions.
No matter what the specific situation is, it is essential to observe the situation of umbilicus every day. The contents of observation include: the color and smell of exudate, which is usually viscous secretion with a little brown blood. At the same time, observe whether the skin around the umbilicus is red, whether the secretion has peculiar smell and bleeding, etc.
Three, cannot artificially trim umbilical cord stump
Baoma will surely find that the umbilical cord was not cut against the belly, but left a [pile]. Just like the mother mentioned earlier who asked for trimming, some parents will think that this [pile] is in the way, and the baby is easy to rub the abdominal skin when moving or crying. In fact, the dry umbilical cord will not scratch the skin in general.
At the same time, each baby’s umbilical cord stump heals differently, and artificial pruning is likely to affect healing and even cause secondary injury.
So, don’t rush to let the umbilical cord stump fall off, wait for it to fall off on its own. Ten months have passed, and this week or two is not in a hurry, right?
Four, umbilical cord nursing also needs to pay attention to 5 details
Novice parents should also pay attention to the following details when properly nursing the umbilicus.
1. Wash hands thoroughly before umbilical cord care, and act lightly and steadily during operation.
2. Pay attention to keep warm during nursing to prevent newborns from catching cold.
3. Before the umbilical cord falls off, the umbilical region should be examined and cared for at least once a day. Never forcibly peel off the umbilical region before the umbilical cord falls off, so as not to damage the umbilical region and cause hemorrhage in serious cases.
4. It is not recommended to cover and wrap the umbilical cord stump with dressing, which is convenient for umbilical observation, and also makes the umbilical cord stump easy to dry and has shorter falling time.
5. After each diaper change, the diaper part close to the navel should be turned down to avoid humid and sultry umbilicus caused by diaper cover, which will affect umbilicus falling off. If the newborn umbilicus is red, smelly, fluids or foul smell, etc., it is necessary to guard against the possibility of umbilicus infection and go to the hospital in time.