If you have just had your first baby, you probably have questions about the umbilical cord, such as:

  • how to care for it,
  • how to keep it dry until it falls off,
  • how to tell whether it is infected and when to seek medical help.

What is the umbilical cord? When does it fall off?

The umbilical cord supplies the baby with oxygen and nutrients while the baby is in the womb. It is cut shortly after birth, and a clamp is placed on the end. Your baby’s umbilical cord contains no nerves, so the baby feels no pain.

Childbirth in Switzerland always takes place under the supervision of a neonatologist, who examines your newborn and can soon advise you on newborn care, including how to look after the navel in the first days.

By the time the cord falls off, the skin it covered should have healed. Even so, the skin may still be slightly red and ooze a little. Continue to keep your baby’s navel dry and clean, and everything will soon return to normal. Consult your paediatrician if it has not healed completely within two weeks of the cord falling off.

Can a newborn’s navel get wet?

Moisture irritates the baby’s delicate skin around the navel. Where there is a lot of moisture, bacteria can multiply and cause infection. So wash your baby with a sponge or a cotton washcloth rather than immersing them in a bath. After washing, gently pat the baby’s body dry. This will help keep the skin around the navel suitably dry.

Keep the nappy away from the baby’s navel. If this is not possible, you can cut away part of the nappy around the navel with scissors before putting it on the baby. You also need to protect the delicate skin around your baby’s navel from contact with irritants such as urine. To let the skin around the navel breathe and help the navel heal faster, it is better to dress the baby in a vest rather than a romper suit. Choose loose clothing over anything that fits tightly against the skin; a loose cotton T-shirt is ideal.

To wash your baby, start by preparing everything you need, for example:

  • A bowl of warm water
  • A washcloth
  • Baby soap
  • Damp cotton wool or a cotton bud
  • Towels
  • A clean nappy
  • Clean clothes.

Lay the baby on a flat, soft surface, such as a changing mat or a towel on the floor, with everything you need within reach. Always stay with your newborn throughout washing. If the baby is on a raised surface, such as a changing table, always keep one hand on their tummy.

Cover the baby with a towel to keep them warm, leaving uncovered only the parts of the body you are washing. Start with the face, using a washcloth without soap so that none gets into the eyes. Then add soap to the water and gently clean the rest of the body, especially the skin folds around the neck, ears and genitals.

For the area around your baby’s umbilical cord, follow the instructions above. For example, you can clean the area with a cotton bud or damp cotton wool, taking care to keep the cord itself dry.

How can you tell whether the umbilical cord is infected?

An infection of your baby’s umbilical cord is unlikely. However, if you notice any of the signs of infection listed below, contact your paediatrician:

  • A yellowish, foul-smelling discharge from the cord
  • Red discolouration of the skin around the cord
  • Swelling of the area around the navel
  • Your baby cries when you touch the cord, or is sensitive or irritable.

Umbilical cord problems

There are two conditions associated with the umbilical cord or navel. If you think your baby has symptoms of either, contact your doctor:

  • Umbilical granuloma. After your baby’s cord has come away, you may notice a small, reddish, moist lump or nodule near the navel. This lump may grow slightly and ooze a little. It will probably disappear on its own within about a week, but if it does not, your doctor can remove it.
  • Umbilical hernia. If you notice that your baby’s navel bulges when they cry, they may have an umbilical hernia. This is a small opening in the abdominal wall that allows tissue to push outwards under pressure, for example when your newborn cries. Umbilical hernias usually heal between the ages of 12 and 18 months.