Umbilical Cord Care

What is Umbilical Cord?

Umbilical Cord is the supple configuration that connects the fetus to the Placenta which removes ravages and transport food to the fetus. The word umbilical was derived from the Latin word “Umbilicalis” which stands for "of the navel", and is first used during the mid-18th century. It is the one that joins the baby in the womb to the mother with an opening from the baby’s stomach (Umbilicus) to the placenta in the womb. Its function is to supply food to the baby and the length varies.

Umbilical cords are rich source of stem cells and this is one of the things that have made them to be very important in the recent years. However, other functions of the umbilical cords are: -

• The supply of oxygen from the mother’s bloodstream to the baby’s bloodstream
• Circulation of blood to the baby’s body through the blood vessels.
• Transporting back of deoxygenated blood and waste products like carbon dioxide from the baby back to the placenta by the two arteries.

The blood that the umbilical cord passes between the fetus and the placenta is highly oxygen concentrated, which will keep the fetus alive and well without any direct source of air.

The umbilical cord is so sensitive that any careless handling can cause havoc that can bring about bacteria. Therefore, it is very important to take adequate care of the umbilical cord. Identified below are some of the ways by which you can take care of your baby’s umbilical cord.

• The best and the most preferable way is not to touch the cord at all (leave it alone). In doing this however, make ensure that you keep urine off the cord.
• You can clean the cord severally a day with the use of mentholated spirit on a swab or cotton wool.
• Do not leave the baby inside bath water for too long except the stump has fallen off. You can make use of sponge together with mild soap and warm water to bathe the baby.
• Avoid using non sterilized materials when cleaning the umbilical cord as they are capable of creating breeding space for bacteria and neonatal tetanus which are considered deadly.
• Prevent the cord from diaper as it is mandatory for you to fold the diaper back or under. This will not allow the cord to make any contact with the diaper. Also, keep the cord in the open for it to dry and make sure you replace the diaper at each cleaning of the cord.
• Importantly, do not force the umbilical cord to remove or fall off particularly when it is drying off and the slump appeared to be hanging on by a thread.

Umbilical Cord Infection Warning Signs

When the cord is being attacked by any disease or bacteria, there are some important signs you will notice in the cord which will make you contact your doctor without any delay. Some of these signs are as identified below: -

• Foul and unpleasant odor around the stump
• Redness around the cord
• Irregular discharge from the stump
• Bleeding for some days
• Feverish condition on the part of the baby
• Tenderness of the skin surrounding the cord.

Finally, umbilical cord care is very essential as any mishandling can affect the child greatly. Also, the umbilical stump of the baby is one of the first opportunities that parents have to carefully care for their new born baby’s growth. This must be done diligently as it is just a matter of at least two weeks when the stump would have fallen off. Under no circumstance should you force the stump to pull off even if it is about to drop.