When the baby is still in the mother's body, it relies on the umbilical cord to obtain nutrients. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord has little effect, which means that the umbilical cord connecting the mother and baby must be cut off at the moment of birth. So, does the umbilical cord need to be cut off completely?
In fact, after cutting the umbilical cord, it will gradually turn black and then fall off, forming a small wound, so it is not necessary to cut the entire umbilical cord when cutting it. But if the umbilical cord is not properly cared for after cutting, allowing bacteria to enter can cause umbilical inflammation, and in severe cases, sepsis may occur. Therefore, parents should pay attention to the care of their baby's umbilical cord.
Under normal circumstances, the umbilical cord will fall off after one month, and some may fall off later, depending on the baby's metabolism. Before that, parents can disinfect the baby's umbilical cord with cotton swabs and alcohol to wipe off all secretions and bacteria inside. When cleaning the umbilical cord, attention should be paid to whether the area around the navel is moist. The navel should be kept dry to better help the baby's navel heal; After the umbilical cord falls off, parents should still insist on disinfecting the baby, pay attention to keeping the surface of the navel dry, pay attention to ventilation, and avoid covering the navel with diapers when using them. If there is redness, swelling, inflammation or a lot of viscous substances overflowing from the baby's navel, they should seek medical attention in a timely manner.
