Newborn navel care, these 4 abnormalities should be careful

Usually before leaving the hospital, the medical staff will explain the nursing precautions after going home, including umbilical cord care. Parents must study hard. If the care is not in place, it is easy to cause dangerous situations such as infection and inflammation in the umbilicus of the newborn.

What kind of umbilical cord needs medical treatment?

Normally, a newborn's umbilical cord falls off naturally within 2 weeks. If during this period, the umbilical cord of the newborn is abnormal due to various reasons, you should seek medical treatment in time. There are 4 types of exceptions:

1. Omphalitis

The navel of the newborn is red and swollen with yellow-white discharge, which smells like rotten eggs. And when accompanied by neonatal fever, milk refusal, etc., simply disinfecting the navel at home cannot correct this infection, and you should seek medical attention in time.

2. Umbilical eczema

It is the same as other eczema in newborns, except that this eczema is around the navel. It will cause local skin erosion, exudation, desquamation, etc., and it needs to be treated according to the doctor's advice after seeing a doctor.

3. Umbilical hernia

A round or semicircular mass in the navel that protrudes when crying or straining to defecate. Therefore, parents should avoid crying of newborns and keep the stool unobstructed to prevent umbilical hernia from protruding.

4. Umbilical granuloma

Generally, after the umbilical cord falls off, the wound at the place where it falls off is infected or irritated, and small granulation tissue is formed locally. At this time, the newborn should be taken to see a doctor in time.

Dos and Don'ts of Umbilical Cord Care

1. Pay attention to remove the gauze

After the umbilical cord is cut, the medical staff will wrap the umbilical cord with gauze to protect the newborn's umbilical cord. The gauze should be removed after 12 to 24 hours. If the dressing time is too long, the gauze will be easily contaminated, causing bacteria to grow in the navel.

2. Observe for bleeding

If the umbilical cord is not tightly ligated, the remaining blood in the umbilical cord will flow out. You can carefully disinfect the area around the umbilicus with alcohol, and then re-ligate it with a sterile thin thread.

3. Keep the navel dry

Before or just after the umbilical cord falls off, it is a kind of necrotic tissue. If it is accidentally stained with water, the umbilical cord will be infected with bacteria. If it is found that the umbilical cord is stained with water or urine, it should be dealt with in time and disinfected with alcohol.

4. Avoid using skin care products, keep ventilation

Parents, don't sprinkle talcum powder around the navel, and don't use body lotion and other skin care products to smear the root of the umbilical cord, which is not conducive to the normal breathing of the navel. Also, be careful not to cover the navel too thickly to avoid moisture.

5. Sterilize the umbilical cord daily

After the newborn takes a bath, first use a sterile cotton swab to gently wipe the water stains on the navel, and then use a new cotton swab dipped in 75% alcohol to disinfect the navel. Do not use too much force when disinfecting. Wipe the umbilical fossa first, disinfect and wipe it from the center to the outside, and then wipe from the root of the umbilicus to the stump. Note that the ligature on the umbilical cord should also be disinfected.

6. Be careful not to rub the navel

Before the umbilical cord wound is healed, parents should be careful not to let the clothes or diapers rub against the umbilical cord when dressing or changing diapers for the newborn. Clothes and diapers can be worn under the navel to avoid friction.

7. Treatment of mild umbilical infection

If you observe slight redness and swelling in the navel of the newborn and a small amount of exudate, don't be too nervous. It should be disinfected with 75% alcohol to remove exudate, and then scrubbed with hydrogen peroxide. Pay attention to observe the local conditions and whether the newborn has fever.

8. Precautions

Parents should clean their hands thoroughly every time they do umbilical care for newborns, so as not to bring bacteria to the newborns. Pay attention to observe the umbilicus and newborns for fever, anorexia, and poor spirits.

Although these 4 abnormalities may appear in the umbilical cord wound of the newborn, there are also many precautions in the nursing process. However, don't worry, as long as you take good care of it, your baby will grow up healthy and happy.