Proper care of the umbilical cord stump facilitates healing and reduces infection and bleeding risks. The primary goal of cord care is to keep the cord stump clean and dry, which reduces infection risk. Additional teaching points regarding cord care include: Keep the cord stump open to air when possible to allow for adequate drying. Do not apply antiseptics (eg, alcohol, triple dye, chlorhexidine) to the cord stump (previously common practice); current recommendations are to avoid such solutions due to the potential for skin irritation (Option 3).
Report any signs of infection (eg, redness, purulent drainage, swelling) to the health care provider.
(Option 1) The umbilical cord is usually clamped and cut a few minutes after birth. The clamp is left in place until the cord begins to dry, usually around 24 hours after birth. The remaining cord stump begins to shrivel and turn black in 2-3 days.
(Option 2) The cord usually separates spontaneously from the umbilicus 1-2 weeks after birth. Parents should be instructed not to pull on the cord stump or attempt to hasten cord separation, which could result in bleeding or other complications.
(Option 4) The diaper should be folded below the cord to keep the cord dry and prevent contamination with urine or feces. Educational objective: The primary goal of cord care is to keep the cord stump clean and dry. Parents should keep the umbilical area dry, not apply antiseptics to the stump, and report any signs of infection.
Proper care of the umbilical cord stump facilitates healing and reduces infection and bleeding risks. The primary goal of cord care is to keep the cord stump clean and dry, which reduces infection risk. Additional teaching points regarding cord care include: Keep the cord stump open to air when possible to allow for adequate drying. Do not apply antiseptics (eg, alcohol, triple dye, chlorhexidine) to the cord stump (previously common practice); current recommendations are to avoid such solutions due to the potential for skin irritation (Option 3).
Report any signs of infection (eg, redness, purulent drainage, swelling) to the health care provider.
(Option 1) The umbilical cord is usually clamped and cut a few minutes after birth. The clamp is left in place until the cord begins to dry, usually around 24 hours after birth. The remaining cord stump begins to shrivel and turn black in 2-3 days.
(Option 2) The cord usually separates spontaneously from the umbilicus 1-2 weeks after birth. Parents should be instructed not to pull on the cord stump or attempt to hasten cord separation, which could result in bleeding or other complications.
(Option 4) The diaper should be folded below the cord to keep the cord dry and prevent contamination with urine or feces. Educational objective: The primary goal of cord care is to keep the cord stump clean and dry. Parents should keep the umbilical area dry, not apply antiseptics to the stump, and report any signs of infection.
