Health Tip: Caring for a Newborn's Umbilical Cord
Posted on February 20th, 2008 by Brain Mitel
Once a newborn’s umbilical cord is cut justafter birth, the remaining piece needs proper care to preventinfection.The American Pregnancy
Association offers these suggestions:Keep the area around the cord clean. Ask your doctor what isrecommended — perhaps cleaning regularly with rubbing alcohol, or justwater and a gentle cleanser.Make sure the cord area stays dry. Use a newborn diaper with an areacut out to expose the cord. Also, let your baby wear a short t-shirt and adiaper when possible to help air get to the area.Don’t give your baby a full, submerged bath — just a sponge bath –until after the cord has fallen off.Never pick or pull at the remaining cord, but let it fall off on itsown.
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