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Labor & delivery

Cutting the cord

When the baby’s head comes out, the mouth and nose will be gently suctioned to remove any fluid. The newborn is covered in fluid – drying with a towel is necessary to preserve body heat. Often this can be done while the baby is resting on the mother’s abdomen. Cutting the umbilical cord is the next step toward bringing the baby fully into the air-breathing world. Clamping the cord ideally occurs within the first 20-30 seconds of birth in order to prevent too much placental blood from going to the infant causing jaundice. The cord is clamped in two places and then cut between the clamps to prevent bleeding. The umbilical arteries generally seal off after one minute and the umbilical vein in 3-5 minutes. It will take several days for the cord to start to look like a normal belly button. The stump of the umbilical cord usually dries up and falls off in 7 – 10 days. How the navel appears after the cord falls off, is basically the luck of the draw. Some people have “innies” and some have “outies.” There really is no way to predict how site will heal.

While it is thick and moist, the cord stub has a risk of getting infected --so here are some suggested ways to take care of the umbilical cord:

When bathing your baby, wash the umbilical cord with soap and water. Dry it thoroughly by patting with a towel, not rubbing.
Apply isopropyl alcohol ( most commonly found in rubbing alcohol) around the base of the umbilical cord using swabs or alcohol soaked cotton balls.
Cleanse around the umbilical cord after diapering.
Fold the front of the diaper below the umbilical cord to avoid irritation. Some disposable diaper manufacturers make diapers with a “u” cut out in the front for just this purpose.
Watch for redness, swelling, foul odor and drainage. If you see any of these signs, report them to you baby’s health care provider.