The day you have been anxiously awaiting has arrived.Your beautiful new baby is carefully swaddled in a blanket and handed to you to hold and caress. As any parent would, you meticulously go over every inch of your baby. Perhaps you see a striking resemblance to Grandpa's nose. Or maybe your baby has your great aunt's red hair. Of course, you'll count fingers and toes and remark how beautiful they are. Everything seems to be perfect. Your baby is the most beautiful child in the world!

Then, you stumble upon the dark, stump-like object protruding from the belly button. What is it? Have no fear. The umbilical cord, though not the most attractive feature your newborn sports, will heal, dry and eventually fall off, leaving an adorable belly button. In five to 10 days, Baby's tummy will have a whole new look.

However, recent studies have found there are no significant advantages to using rubbing alcohol every day on the umbilical cord stump.

One study, performed by the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation in Ontario, Canada, and published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, examined the drying time of umbilical cords treated with rubbing alcohol versus no alcohol. The study included more than 1,800 newborns. Half of the infants' cords were swabbed with rubbing alcohol and the other half were left untouched.On the average, the untreated cords healed in eight days and the alcohol treated cords healed in 10 days. This and other studies have prompted some hospitals to change their standard procedure of umbilical cord care.

Many hospitals are now using triple dye on newborn umbilical stumps. Triple dye is an antiseptic that protects infants from contracting a resistant staph or strep infection. In fact, triple dye is so effective that one application is all that is required.

Although some parents may be taken aback by the appearance of the umbilical cord, they need to remember to keep it dry and it will eventually fall off. What is important is not how long it takes before the umbilical cord falls off, but how clean and dry the umbilical cord remains. Whether you choose to swab your baby's cord daily with alcohol or let it heal naturally is a decision to discuss with your pediatrician.

• Do not submerge the baby into bath water until the stump falls off. "The infant can be sponge-bathed until the cord falls off," Anderson says. "Sponging and mild soap and warm water is sufficient for bathing." Anderson says. She also warns not to use powders or creams as they may irritate the cord, Baby's skin and can even cause respiratory prolems if Baby inhales the dust of powder.
• Do not let the diaper rub on the baby's cord. It is important to fold the diaper back or under so the cord will not make contact with the diaper. The cord should remain in the open so it can dry, and it's important the diaper not irritate the cord area. "Be sure to change your baby's diaper frequently so that urine does not burn the area," Anderson advises.
• Do not cover the cord with a belly band or coin. "The traditional practice of putting a coin on the cord and binding it onto the cord is dangerous," Anderson says. She warns this practice will only encourage infection and delay the healing process. The dangerous practice of placing a coin on the umbilical cord has no effect on whether your baby has a belly button that retracts or protrudes.
• Do not use non-sterile cosmetic clay on the umbilical cord. Do not use any non-sterile product on your baby's umbilical cord. These products can produce a breeding ground for bacteria and neonatal tetanus, a rare, but deadly disease caused by bacteria found in solid and animal waste. All childbearing women are encouraged to receive a tetanus vaccination to prevent neonatal tetanus in their infants.
• Do not manually pull off the umbilical cord. Near the end of the drying period the stump may appear to be "hanging on by a thread." As tempting as it may be to dispose of the dried cord, do not attempt to speed the process by pulling it off.Infection Warning Signs
  If you live ina warmer climate or your baby is born during the hot summer months, be extra cautious when caring for the umbilical cord stump.Especially in the southern part of the United States, heat can be a major source of concern. Heat and moisture create a breeding ground for infections and often occur when a baby is overdressed or the cord is covered for much of the day. Avoid dressing your baby in snug fitting, one-piece undershirts until the cord falls off. Make sure your baby stays as cool and dry as possible. It is important to let the air circulate to aid in the drying time.

  Be sure to watch for signs of infection around the umbilical cord stump area. If you notice any of the following, notify the baby's pediatrician immediately:

   

  • A reddened or inflamed cord area.
  • A discharge from the stump.
  • Odor from the stump.
  • Tenderness of the skin surrounding the cord.
  • Active bleeding from the cord.
  • Your baby is running a fever.

     

  "If the area is merely irritated, the doctor may just recommend using hydrogen peroxide followed by an alcohol swabbing to clean the cord stump," Anderson says.

  Be prepared that once the umbilical cord has fallen off, a yellowish and "oozy" discharge may drain from the area. This is normal and needn't be a concern unless the drainage continues for more than a couple of days.

  Baby's umbilical cord stump is one of the first opportunities parents have to carefully care for their new addition's changing body. And, in less than two weeks, the effort will be apparent when a kissable belly button arrives!