How to care for and clean the baby's belly button

Babies are born with an umbilical cord attached to the placenta. In the womb, this rope will send oxygen and nutrients to the baby. The umbilical cord will also keep dirt from the baby.

After birth, babies can breathe, eat, and remove their own feces. Therefore, the umbilical cord is no longer needed and will be cut. This will remain several centimeters from the umbilical cord and is called a stretch. This strain will slowly dry out and free itself. This is what will later be called the baby's belly button.

To cut the baby's umbilical cord, the doctor will clamp it in two places and cut it between two clips. This step is done to prevent the amount of bleeding. Umbilical cords have no nerves, so they won't hurt if they are cut like hair or nails.

How to clean the baby's belly button

The best way to care for a baby's navel stump is to keep it clean and dry until it peels. To keep it clean, you don't need to wash it, just avoid the dirt zone. Keeping the stump dry is the best way to ensure a healthy and natural healing.

Here are some ways to clean the belly button that you can do at home:

If it is wet, pat it with a clean cloth. Avoid rubbing stumps suddenly.
Fold a layer of cloth around the waist down to keep it away from the stump. Some types of newborn diapers have been designed so that they don't stick.
Wear clean cotton clothes.

It is recommended to take a bath with a sponge until the tension automatically releases. The following steps must be followed:

Place a dry bath towel on a warm floor
Lay the baby on a towel
Wet a clean cloth and stick it so it doesn't get wet
Clean baby's skin with soft strokes, avoid navel
Focus on the neck and armpit folds
Let the skin dry naturally, then dry with a towel
Wear clean cotton clothes that are not too tight or too tight

After the stump is removed, you can wash the baby with a cloth. Use a corner cloth to clean the baby's belly button. You don't need to use soap and don't rub it hard. If the belly button still looks like an open wound, wait for it to heal completely before rubbing it.

Navel anomaly for babies

From time to time, the baby's belly button can show symptoms of an umbilical hernia. This occurs when the intestine and fat pass through the abdominal muscles below the navel. Umbilical hernias are usually painless.

Omphalitis is another potential complication. This disease is rare but a life-threatening infection. Your baby will need emergency care if your belly button has the following conditions: