Umbilical Cord Care in Newborns

The first few weeks after your baby is born, you'll need to keep the stump of the umbilical cord clean and dry as it shrivels and eventually falls off.

There is no need to use alcohol on the umbilical cord stump; just keep it clean. Also, keep the diaper folded below the cord to keep urine from soaking it.

You may notice a few drops of blood on the diaper around the time the stump falls off; this is normal. But if the cord actively bleeds, call your baby's doctor immediately. If the umbilical cord stump becomes infected (a condition called omphalitis), it will need medical treatment.

Although umbilical cord infections are uncommon, contact your pediatrician if you notice any of the following.

Foul-smelling yellowish discharge from the cord

Red skin around the base of the cord

Crying when you touch the cord or the skin next to it

The umbilical cord stump should dry and fall off by the time your baby is 3 weeks old. If it is still there beyond that time, a doctor's visit is needed.

Sometimes instead of completely drying, the cord will form a granuloma. This is a small reddened or brownish mass of scar tissue that stays on the belly button after the umbilical cord has fallen off. This granuloma will drain a light-yellowish fluid.

An umbilical granuloma will usually go away in about a week. If it doesn't, your child's pediatrician may need to help dry or chemcially cauterize the granulomatous tissue.

If your baby's umbilical cord area seems to push outward when they cry, they may have an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia is a small hole in the muscular part of the abdominal wall that allows the tissue to bulge out when there is increased abdominal pressure (from crying, for example).

An umbilical hernia is not a serious condition; it usually heals by itself in the first 12 to 18 months.

In the unlikely event it doesn't heal by 3 to 5 years of age, the hole may need surgery (a procedure called herniorraphy). Don't put tape or a coin on the navel (belly button). It will not help the hernia, and it may cause a skin rash.

Umbilical Hernia in Children

Your Baby's Umbilical Cord: 5 Surprising Facts for New & Expectant Parents

11 Common Conditions in Newborns

Your Newborn's First Week: What to Expect