Umbilical care for babies

Instructions on how to clean the umbilical cord for babies safely at home

The umbilical care for babies in families is especially the skill and measures to treat non-dry umbilical cord cases, umbilical cord bleeding and bad smells . is what moms need to take care of to help them be healthy. .

Umbilical care is an ongoing process, which must be done immediately after birth to the dry scar.(Photo: cfreport)

After the fetus is removed from the womb, the physicians will cut, tie and rejuvenate the umbilical cord. If the mother is still in the health facilities, the care of the umbilical cord is mainly due to the doctors and nurses. If it is a normal birth, there are no risks, the woman is sent home by the physician to follow up on her own, or the woman is born at home due to the village midwives, the childbirth village, the navel care, follow-up detection Abnormalities of the umbilical cord are carried out by pregnant women (or family members).

Principles of neonatal umbilical care

Umbilical care is an ongoing process, which must be done immediately after birth to the dry scar. Ensure sterility when cutting umbilical cord and making umbilical cord.

The care of the umbilical cord must be directed by a physician to only perform what the physician has instructed, not to sprinkle antibiotic powder, not to apply red medicine to the navel; Use only the medicine prescribed by the doctor; the navel must be ensured to be dry (do not leave urine, bath water . wet the navel); the navel must be fixed, bandaged with clean gauze so that it will not be rubbed when the child moves, but must be clear; The navel must be self-falling.

Normal cases can take care of themselves

If the navel is dry, use glutaraldehyd to wipe the umbilical cord daily (this medicine is prescribed by a doctor and purchased at pharmacies), then put clean gauze and bandage again. Umbilical cord will fall naturally after 6-8 days. When new umbilical cord is still lost, it must be kept dry, clean, cleaned with glutaraldehyd (after about 2-3 days) and clean bandages until scarring (about 1-2 weeks).

The case should be cautious

In case of umbilical cord with bad smell, around the navel, rash or wet, slow to fall : Use iodine to mark twice, umbilical cord with thin, airy gauze, absolutely do not sprinkle antibiotic powder into the navel (in previous years has done so, but in fact, tracking is not good for the navel.)

If the umbilical cord dries back, continue to use glutaraldehyd to wipe the umbilical cord daily until the navel falls naturally; Continue to keep dry, clean until scarring (as the self-care cases mentioned above).

If over 1 day, the umbilical cord still does not dry again and needs to be taken to a medical facility.

If you see ulcers around the navel, gently wash with physiological saline, twice a day, bandage with very thin gauze, leave open. If after 1 day the ulcer is reduced, progresses well, continue to gently wash with physiological saline until the ulcer and dryness is gone. Then take care of the umbilical cord as the self-care cases mentioned above. If the ulcer does not decrease or spread and is deeper, the child should be taken to a medical facility.

Cases that need to be taken to a medical facility

It is the case of births or births at home but due to untrained midwives. In these cases, aseptic conditions are not guaranteed, so they should be taken immediately to a medical facility, not taking care of the umbilical cord at home. At a medical facility, if possible, the child is also given an injection of anti-tetanus (SAT 1500 units).

If during the care process, the umbilical cord is bleeding, bleeding (even if the umbilical cord has not fallen or when the umbilical cord has fallen); umbilical cord, yellowish discharge; redness of the navel, pus; umbilical cord has large, wet umbilical granulomas; Do not dry and fever children should immediately take children to medical facilities.

At health facilities, physicians will have close care and follow-up, depending on each case, babies will be stitched to tie the umbilical cord, use vitamin K to prevent bleeding, antibiotics against infection .

It is thus possible to avoid unnecessary complications for babies.

Diapers should be wrapped under the umbilical cord of the child, avoiding the child's feces and urine sticking to the navel area

How to change the umbilical cord properly for children to prevent umbilical disease

When the umbilical cord is not shed, it is necessary to change the umbilical cord daily, at least in the first three days. After that, if the family space is open and wide, there is no mosquito fly, it is recommended to leave the umbilical cord open, so that the navel will dry quickly and lose more quickly.

1. First, the mother or the person changing the umbilical cord must wash their hands with soap.
2. Remove old navel bandages.
3. Use alcohol swab 90 degrees to apply to the cord to kill germs.First, apply at the top of the umbilical cord before applying it to the body and legs.If you want to reapply, use another piece of cotton to absorb alcohol and then do it again in the above order.Do not use iodine alcohol because it can burn your baby's abdomen.
4. Open a square gauze pad at the foot of the umbilical cord, remove the rest of the gauze.
5. Finally, the umbilical bandage with a clean band wrapped across the abdomen, but not too tight and too thick, especially in the summer.