Many mothers are very
wary of the stump of the umbilical cord when they take
their baby home from the hospital after giving birth.
So it is important that they understand about umbilical
cord health and the process of umbilical cord cutting
as well.
When babies are safely in the womb, they receive
all their nourishment and oxygen through the placenta
which is connected to the inner wall of the mother’s
uterus. The placenta in turn is connected to the baby
by the umbilical cord through an opening in the baby’s
stomach.
After delivery of the baby, the medical staff attend
to the umbilical cord cutting by clamping and cutting
close to the body in a painless procedure, leaving
behind a stump which will in time become the baby’s
tummy button. It is normal to clamp and cut the umbilical
cord within the first 10 seconds after birth to avoid
too much blood to flow to the baby, overloading its
blood volume and increasing the risk of respiratory
distress or jaundice. But another school of thought
is in favor of waiting for about 2 minutes before
proceeding with the umbilical cord cutting. It is
said that this reduces by half the risk of anemia
and boosts iron stores in the baby for as long as
6 months. Those in favor of early clamping see it
as a way to help prevent postpartum hemorrhage in
mothers.
This umbilical cord is now a stump and first time
mothers will be given advice by the hospital staff
on how to care for and ensure umbilical cord health.
The stump normally dries, heals and falls off within
1 to 3 weeks. However, during the time the stump is
healing, it should be kept as clean and as dry as
possible.
A sponge bath is the best way to keep the area clean
but even with the best intentions, a stump can become
wet or soggy. It should be dried carefully with a
clean, absorbent cloth or use a hair dryer on a gentle
setting. If the stump becomes dirty or sticky, wash
it with soap and water. Exposing the stump to air
will also help to dry out the base. Keep the front
of your baby’s diaper folded down to avoid covering
the stump and even getting further moisture onto the
area. Wet or soiled diapers should be changed frequently
to avoid irritating the area of the stump.
During the healing process, it is normal to see a
little crust or dried blood near the stump. Contact
your baby’s doctor if your baby develops a fever
or if the umbilical area appears red and swollen around
the cord; continues to bleed; oozes yellowish pus;
or produces a foul-smelling discharge. Although umbilical
cord infections are unusual, prompt medical attention
can stop an infection quickly.
Even when the stump appears to be just hanging by
a thread, resist the temptation to pull it off. It
is very important for it to fall off naturally.
The blood within the umbilical cord, known as cord
blood, is a rich and readily available source of primate,
undifferentiated stem cells. This can be donated in
the same way as organ donation to help patients with
leukemia, aplastic anemia or other blood diseases.
It can also be stored at a cord blood bank for the
use of your own child in the future in case of need.
However, this practice is costly and relatively recent.
