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Instructions

• Instructions for new users

Call Your Doctor Now If:

• Newborn (< 1 month old) starts to look or act sick in any way
• Bleeding won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
• Spot of lost blood > 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• Red streak runs from the navel
• Red area spreads beyond the navel
• Fever > 100.4°F (38.0°C) rectally

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

• You think your child needs to be seen
• Small recurrent bleeding continues > 3 days
• Pimples, blisters or sores in area
• Lots of drainage from navel (urine, mucus, pus, etc.)

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

• You have other questions or concerns
• After 3 days of treatment, navel is not dry and clean
• Nubbin of pink tissue inside the navel
• Cord attached > 6 weeks

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

Normal Umbilical Cord

Alcohol

Clean the navel with rubbing alcohol 4 times per day. Use a cotton swab to clean away the dried pus or debris. Be vigorous about it. The umbilical area does not have any sensation, so the alcohol won't sting.

If the cord is still present, clean underneath it by lifting it and bending it to each side. If the cord has fallen off, pour some alcohol into the depression and remove it after 2 or 3 minutes. (Reason: it takes that long to kill the bacteria.)

Each primary care provider / newborn nursery has specific preferences regarding how to provide umbilical cord care. The overall goal is to keep umbilical area dry and clean, as that will help prevent infection and encourage healing.

Diapers

Keep the umbilical area dry to help healing. To provide air exposure, keep the diaper folded down below the cord area.

Dryness

Avoid tub baths until the area is healed.

Poop on Cord

Getting some poop on the cord or navel is not serious.

If it occurs, clean the area with lots of water, followed by rubbing alcohol. That should prevent any infections.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Develops a red streak
• Fever occurs
• Your baby begins to look sick or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Superficial Infection of the Cord or Navel

Reassurance

A cloudy discharge from the navel is usually a mild infection from normal skin bacteria. Usually home treatment can clear it up quickly.

Alcohol

Clean the navel with rubbing alcohol 4 times per day. Use a cotton swab to clean away the dried pus or debris. Be vigorous about it. The umbilical area does not have any sensation, so the alcohol won't sting.

If the cord is still present, clean underneath it by lifting it and bending it to each side. If the cord has fallen off, pour some alcohol into the depression and remove it after 2 or 3 minutes. (Reason: it takes that long to kill the bacteria.)

Antibiotic Ointment

If a little pus is present, apply an antibiotic ointment (OTC) 4 times per day after each cleansing. Bacitracin or Polysporin ointment will do.

Diapers

Keep the umbilical area dry to help healing. To provide air exposure, keep the diaper folded down below the cord area.

Dryness

Avoid tub baths until the area is healed.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Develops a red streak
• Fever occurs
• Umbilical area is not completely dry and clean after 2 days using this treatment
• Your baby begins to look sick or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Home Care Advice for Normal Umbilical Bleeding

Reassurance

A few drops of blood is normal with cord separation. Friction against clothing may make it recur.

Bleeding

Apply direct pressure for 10 minutes with a sterile gauze to stop any bleeding. Clean the area beforehand, rather than afterwards. (Reason: to prevent rebleeding.)

Diaper

Prevent friction on the umbilical stump from the diaper by folding it down or cutting a wedge out of it.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Bleeding becomes worse
• Few drops of blood continues > 3 days
• Your baby begins to look sick or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Home Care Advice for the Early Separation of the Cord Before 10 Days

Reassurance

The cord can't fall off too early. The average cord falls off between 10 and 14 days.

Alcohol

Clean the navel with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab 4 times per day. Pour some alcohol into the depression and remove it after 2 or 3 minutes. (Reason: it takes that long to kill the bacteria.)

The umbilical area does not have any sensation, so the alcohol won't sting.

Diapers

Keep the umbilical area dry to help healing. To provide air exposure, keep the diaper folded down below the navel.

Dryness

Avoid tub baths until the area is healed.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Develops a red streak
• Fever occurs
• Your baby begins to look sick or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Home Care Advice for Delayed Separation of the Cord Beyond 2 Weeks

Reassurance

Most cords fall off between 10 and 14 days. All cords eventually fall off by themselves. Continue to be patient.

Stop Alcohol

Stop applying rubbing alcohol to the cord. Rubbing alcohol sometimes also kills the good bacteria that help the cord dry up and fall off.

Diaper

Help the cord dry up faster by keeping the diaper folded below it. An easier approach is to cut out a wedge of the diaper (if disposable) with a scissors so the cord is exposed to the air.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Cord begins to look infected
• Fever occurs
• Cord is still attached > 6 weeks
• Your baby begins to look sick or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms