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While in the womb, the umbilical cord provides oxygen and nutrients needed for the fetus to develop. After birth, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut leaving a stump that will eventually fall off and heal to form the umbilical cord. Normally, the umbilical stump before falling off will have a characteristic smell. However, when a newborn's umbilical cord has a foul odor after it falls off, this can be a problem and the baby needs proper care.
1. The smell of a newborn's navel
Newborn babies are covered with amniotic fluid, secretions from the birth canal and may not have a pleasant smell right after birth. After bathing (except around the navel), this odor should disappear.
After birth, the umbilical cord that attaches the baby to the mother will be severed. A remaining segment of the cord stump that turns from pink to purple-blue may remain until it is completely shed. At first, the stump of the umbilical cord that has not fallen off may have an unpleasant odor, but this odor will fade after the remaining stump has completely fallen off.
In the past, pediatricians recommended washing the stump of this umbilical cord with alcohol. However, the effect of alcohol will further dry and irritate the very delicate skin of babies. This leads to the risk of skin peeling and secondary infection, so the use of alcohol to clean the baby is no longer recommended. Thus, the remaining umbilical cord is best left to dry and fall off naturally.
Rarely, the remaining stump of the umbilical cord can become infected and may present with redness, swelling, and itching on and around the umbilicus, with or without the umbilicus, with yellow pus, green. If infected, the umbilical cord of the newborn baby has a very unpleasant odor and the baby will also react by feeling pain to the touch.
In addition, the baby can also have a high fever due to the infection and become very irritable, refuse to feed and even sleep for a long time. In this case, the baby will need appropriate umbilical wound care and even systemic antibiotics if the infection is severe.
Because about 10-20% of babies have an umbilical hernia at birth, because the abdominal muscles cannot fully close after birth, part of the intestines or the contents of the abdomen may bulge through the opening and be lost. infection. This is the result that causes the baby's navel to have a bad smell. An umbilical hernia is easy to diagnose by seeing a small tender bump around the belly button, and this usually subsides by the time the child is three to four years old.
On the contrary, if the child still eats and sleeps well, does not fuss, then there is nothing to worry about. Parents should leave the rest of the umbilical cord as it is and the smell of the baby's belly button will gradually subside after a few days and disappear naturally. However, do not attempt to resolve a baby's umbilical cord odor by forced removal. That will be painful for the child as well as possibly causing infection and potentially scarring on the abdominal wall that is unsightly.
2. How should the baby's navel have a bad smell?
After the baby is born, the midwife or obstetrician will clamp and then cut the umbilical cord. After the cut is complete, a small piece of the umbilical cord will still be attached to your baby's navel - this will be about 2-3 cm long and is called the umbilical cord.
Over the next 7 to 14 days, the base of the umbilicus will darken, wither, shrivel and eventually fall off. The remaining small wound will heal and become the navel on your baby's abdominal wall. Here are some easy care tips for your baby's umbilical cord stump before it falls off.
Steps to clean the baby's umbilical cord:
Wash your hands before touching the baby's umbilical cord and before and after changing diapers.
Rinse your baby's umbilical cord stump with plain water when you bathe. You don't need to use any antiseptic soaps, creams or ointments to keep the area clean.
Make sure to dry the umbilical cord properly after bathing your baby. Gently pat the remaining umbilicus dry with a clean towel or soft cloth. Fold the diaper down so that the remaining umbilical cord is not covered and let it air dry for a while if the weather is not too cold.
If the stump is soiled by the child's feces or urine, wash it off with clean water or soap if necessary. Remember to pat dry and allow some time to air dry.
Never actively pull the umbilical cord because it will fall off on its own.
3. What to do when the umbilical cord stump has fallen off?
The stump of the umbilical cord can be discarded. Continue to wash your hands before touching the baby's navel area. It's normal for the navel to appear black or have red spots. It can also have a strong odor and have some clear, sticky or brownish liquid that leaves stains on your baby's diaper or clothes. This is part of the umbilical cord healing process and can take up to seven days to fully heal. This process is painless for the baby.
Continue to keep the baby's navel area clean and dry by rinsing with plain water in the shower and patting dry. Continue folding your baby's diaper down and allow some time to air dry.
If the navel has a little ooze, you can wet a cotton ball with warm water to gently wipe it off, making sure it doesn't bleed. Use a new cotton pad each time you wipe the area and then throw it away.
4. When does a newborn baby's navel have a bad smell, it is necessary to take the baby to see a doctor?
If the baby has a fever or has an elevated body temperature. If there is a red spot or line around the navel and it feels soft and warm to the touch. If there is cloudy discharge that does not dissolve after you clean the navel and surrounding area. If your baby seems constantly sleepy, lethargic, doesn't want to feed as usual, or doesn't seem well. In short, it is natural for a newborn's navel to have a foul odor after birth and during the first few days of life. However, if a newborn baby's navel has a stronger odor and is accompanied by other signs such as red, swollen skin around the navel, crying, and refusing to breastfeed, this has become a problem. The possibility of a baby having an umbilical cord infection. Parents need to know to take the child to the doctor promptly, even if the baby's umbilical cord has a bad smell after falling, in order to control the infection effectively as soon as possible.
In short, parents need to be careful when taking care of the umbilical cord for a newborn. Monitor the status of the umbilicus after shedding with yellow fluid and need to take the child to the doctor as soon as there are abnormal symptoms.
Newborns are generally prone to umbilical and respiratory diseases. To protect children's health, parents should do well to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months (if possible) and vaccinate on schedule. As soon as the child shows symptoms such as anorexia, fatigue, crying, it is necessary to take the child to the hospital to be consulted by a specialist for monitoring and treatment. Currently, the Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital is trusted by many parents to examine the diseases that babies and children have. Vinmec brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts.
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