Umbilical cord care
8-minute read
Key facts
- Taking care of your newborn baby’s umbilical cord stump helps prevent infection.
- The stump will fall off naturally in a week or 2, and will become your baby’s belly button.
- Good hygiene is the best way to encourage healing.
- See your doctor or child health nurse if your baby’s belly button area becomes infected or is not healing well.
What is the umbilical cord?
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord delivers oxygen and nutrients to your baby. The umbilical cord connects your placenta to your baby’s tummy.
After your baby is born, their umbilical cord is clamped and cut. This will not hurt you or your baby.
A small part of the umbilical cord is left in place with the clamp. This umbilical stump is usually about 2 to 3cm long.
How long will my baby’s umbilical cord stump stay attached?
The umbilical stump (along with the clamp) usually falls off after about 5 to 14 days. It heals and forms your baby’s umbilicus (belly button).
Before falling off, the umbilical cord stump:
- dries
- shrinks
- gets darker
Sometimes, especially in the day or so before it falls off, the stump can ooze a little. It may leave marks on your baby’s clothes.
Don’t pull the cord stump off, even if it looks like it will come off easily. Pulling it off can delay healing and cause scarring. Also, do not remove the clamp — it will fall off on its own with the umbilical stump.
When the umbilical cord stump falls off, there is sometimes a little bleeding. This is normal and it should stop quickly.
See your doctor, midwife or child health nurse if you have any concerns.
How do I care for my baby’s umbilical cord stump?
There are ways for you to prevent problems, such as infection, during healing of their umbilical cord stump.
Try not to touch the cord stump other than when you’re washing it. If you need to touch your baby’s umbilical cord stump area, wash your hands thoroughly first.
Washing the umbilical cord stump
You can gently wash your baby’s umbilical cord stump as part of their usual bathing routine.
Directions for washing:
- Use only water and cotton pads to wash the area.
- You don’t need to use antiseptics or special creams.
- Dry the area around the stump carefully — you can pat it dry gently with a towel or soft cloth.
- Allow the area time to air dry if the weather is not too cold.
- If wee or poo gets on the stump, you can use a mild soap and water to help clean it off.
Nappies and the umbilical cord stump
The stump needs to dry out in the air. So, don’t cover your baby’s umbilical cord stump with their nappy. If your baby’s nappy covers the stump, simply fold it over at the top, so it sits below your baby’s belly button area.
Don’t cover the cord stump with adhesive plasters or bandages, as this stops airflow around the stump.
How long will my baby’s belly button take to heal after the cord stump falls off?
Your baby’s belly button should heal completely in a few days. It’s normal for it to bleed or ooze a little after the cord stump falls off.
Always wash your hands before touching your baby’s belly button. Keep the area clean and dry.
Use a clean cotton bud with warm water to remove any ooze from your baby’s belly button area.
How can I tell if my baby’s belly button is infected?
If there is continuous stickiness or discharge, your baby’s belly button may be infected. You should show your midwife, doctor or child health nurse.
Signs of an infection of the belly button may include:
- redness in and around the belly button
- their belly button is warm to touch
- swelling of the area
- stickiness or a cloudy ooze
- a bad smell
If you think your baby’s cord stump or belly button is infected, see your midwife or doctor as soon as possible.
Your baby might also show signs of being generally unwell, such as:
- fever
- poor feeding
- sleepiness
Fever in young babies can be dangerous. If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever above 38°C, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
What other problems can affect my baby’s belly button?
Umbilical granuloma
Sometimes, baby’s belly buttons do not heal completely. Moist red tissue forms over the stump site, which may form a small lump. This is called an ‘umbilical granuloma’.
An umbilical granuloma may ooze a small amount of clear or yellow fluid.
See your doctor, midwife or child health nurse if your baby’s belly button is not healing well.
To help an umbilical granuloma to heal, your doctor may recommend salt treatment.
Salt treatment involves:
- Cleaning your baby’s belly button area with warm water and drying it.
- Applying a small pinch of table or cooking salt to their umbilical granuloma.
- Covering the area with a dry gauze dressing for 30 minutes to keep the salt on.
- After 30 minutes, removing the salt using a cotton ball that has been soaked in warm water.
- Making sure the area is clean and dry.
This procedure can be done twice daily for 3 to 5 days.
Sometimes, topical treatment may be applied to the granuloma by your doctor.
Umbilical hernia
If you notice a small, soft lump around your baby’s belly button, they may have an umbilical hernia.
Umbilical hernias can look like a bulge or swelling around the belly button. The swelling can come and go, and you may notice it more when your baby cries.
Umbilical hernias are common in babies and small children. They often go away as your child gets older.
Umbilical hernias do not usually cause serious problems, but sometimes they need to be treated with surgery if they don’t go away on their own.
Resources and support
Call your baby’s child health nurse for ongoing care and support.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has fact sheets on children’s health, including information in languages other than English.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.