A mother is too pleased when the child is born, but if there are complications during delivery, she definitely undergoes a lot of trauma in the form of worry and tension and general discomfort. Umbilical cord infection is a health issue that cannot be ignored during delivery.
What is the umbilical cord
The fetus is connected to the mother in the womb via the umbilical cord, a major part of the body functioning of a pregnant woman. After birth of the child, the umbilical cord is not required and is cut off. The stump of the chord remains for sometime on the body of the child and later on falls off in 10 to 14 days.
Symptoms of umbilical cord infection
The area under the stump gets
- Inflamed
- Tender
- Red
- Naval oozes a discolored discharge
- Even bleeding occurs near the separation area of the chord
- Separation from the umbilical cord is delayed by nearly 2 weeks
- Dried pus can be seen around the stump
- The area around the umbilical cord is tender, emanates foul smell and is swollen
- The baby behaves abnormally or looks so
How to remove the infection
- Remove dried pus
- Infected area to be cleaned up 6 times in a day
- Keep the part uncovered for air-drying
- Use prescribed antibiotics. Take them according to prescribed time
- Clean the part with a clean and moist cloth or a cotton swab, near the base
- The stump is lifted to remove the infection
- The entire drainage needs to be removed
- Keep the area dry by rolling up the diaper below the navel
This infection can spread around surrounding tissues. Treat within 24 hours, which .can be done in the physician’s office by the application of silver nitrate solution.
Reaction to treatment: Heals quickly without specified treatment.
Know more about home care:
- Rub alcohol about 4 times in a day on the affected area. There is no sensation as the alcohol. does not sting
- Cotton swab can used to dry up the pus or debris near the cord
- If the umbilical cord falls off, then cleanup the depressed area by pouring alcohol in the depressed area for about 2 to 3 minutes. It kills bacteria and prevents further infection
- Use diapers for healing the affected area. Keep the diaper folded underneath the umbilical cord in order to provide air exposure
- Avoid baths till the area heals up
- Seek doctor’s help
Treatment mode for normal umbilical cord separation occurring 10 days before:
The umbilical cord normally falls down on the average within 10 to 14 days. If it happens before 10 days, here what you need to do:
- Clean up the naval area with alcohol with a cotton swab at least 4 times in a day
- Pour alcohol in the depressed area and let it be for about 2 to 3 minutes, in order to get rid of the bacteria
Treatment for beyond 2 weeks delay in separation of the cord:
- Most of the umbilical cords fall off between a period of 10 to 14 days. In any case, they do eventually fall off. One must be patient
- Stop rubbing alcohol on the umbilical cord. This prevents the killing of good bacteria and keeps the cord area dry that eventually falls off
- Place the diaper below the cord to keep it dry and make a wedge in the diaper that will allow the area to be exposed to the air
- One must call the doctor
- If the cord is getting infected
- Occurrence of fever
- If the baby appears to be sick or behaving abnormally
- If the cord remain over 6 weeks
It is quite evident that parents need to treat the infection quickly, as it could affect the health of the newborn.