The umbilical cord supplies nutrients from the mother to fetus.
When your baby is born, it no longer needs the umbilical cord to provide its nutrients, and so this cord is clamped and cut, leaving a small remaining bit of cord at your newborn’s abdomen. This is called the umbilical stump.
Eventually, the cord dries out and falls off, leaving behind a belly button in its place.
Taking care of the stump
Your baby's umbilical cord stump dries out and eventually falls off usually within one to three weeks after birth. In the meantime, treat the area gently:
- Keep the stump dry.
- Let the stump fall off on its own. Resist the temptation to pull off the stump yourself.
- Expose stump to air. Keeping the stump uncovered for a little time each day can help it dry out.
Is a bleeding belly button normal in newborns?
During the healing process, it's normal to see a little blood near the stump. Much like a scab, the cord stump might bleed a little when it falls off.
Many parents may notice a small area of bleeding at the point where the newborn’s umbilical cord begins to separate from the body.
Sometimes a newborn’s diaper or even a piece of clothing may rub against the umbilical cord. This can irritate the area and cause bleeding as well.
If the umbilical area oozes pus, the surrounding skin becomes red and swollen, or the area develops a pink moist bump, could be signs of an umbilical cord infection. contact your baby's doctor to stop the infection from spreading.
Also, talk to your baby's doctor if the stump still hasn't separated after three weeks. This might be a sign of an underlying problem, such an infection or immune system disorder.
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