The umbilical cord stump is an open wound with abundant blood, which is a good place for pathogenic bacteria to grow. If mishandled, germs can take advantage of the opportunity and cause systemic infection. Umbilical cord care for newborn babies The fetus transmits nutrients to the fetus through the umbilical vein and the waste produced through the umbilical artery to the mother, who excretes it instead. After the birth of the fetus, the umbilical cord is ligated and the newborn is officially “disconnected” from the mother and becomes an independent person. However, the stump of the umbilical cord that remains in the newborn is very important to the newborn until it heals and falls off. The umbilical cord stump is an open wound with abundant blood, which is a good place for pathogenic bacteria to grow, and if it is not handled properly, the germs will take advantage of the opportunity to cause systemic infection and lead to neonatal sepsis. Therefore, good umbilical cord care is one of the important elements of caring for newborns. Newborn babies should check the umbilicus every day to keep it clean and dry from urine and stool contamination, and wipe the root of the umbilicus with a 75% alcohol cotton swab. After the umbilical cord falls off, it is normal that the umbilical recess may produce a discharge or have a wet surface. However, it is still necessary to disinfect with alcohol or apply 2% gentian violet to ensure dryness. The disadvantage of using gentian violet is that it can mask umbilical symptoms, so its use is not recommended. If the umbilicus is crusted, the scab should be removed and the bottom cleaned thoroughly. You should not apply prickly heat powder etc. to the umbilicus to prevent infection. Abnormal signs of a small belly button Under normal circumstances, the umbilical cord of a newborn baby will fall off within two weeks of birth. However, the baby’s umbilicus can also appear abnormal, and should be promptly diagnosed and treated. 1. Umbilical cord inflammation The umbilicus is running or has purulent discharge. The skin of the umbilical chakra is red and swollen or there is purulent discharge after removing the umbilical fossa scab. The umbilical discharge has a foul smell. In addition to local disinfection and cleaning, it may need to be treated with antibiotics and should be checked at a hospital. If there is fever, weakness and poor milk intake, you should also be alert to the presence of sepsis and seek medical attention urgently without delay. 2. Umbilical granuloma After the umbilical cord falls off, if the trauma at the root of the umbilical cord is stimulated by foreign substances (such as talcum powder or blood scabs) or infected, small granulation tissues will be formed locally: the surface is moist, with a small amount of mucus or bloody secretions, which will not heal over time. At this time should promptly seek medical attention, the doctor will use silver nitrate cautery or scratch local or electrocautery, can be cured. If the above methods do not work, it should be surgically removed. 3, umbilical cord velvet After the umbilical cord is shed, the trauma has a red, smooth and moist surface like a mucous membrane swelling, much like a small polyp, with a small amount of secretion, called umbilical cord velvet. Unlike granuloma, umbilical cord velvet is intestinal mucosal tissue, which is the residue of the yolk tube during the embryonic period. The treatment of umbilical velvet is the same as that of granuloma. 4. Umbilical fistula After the umbilical cord is shed, there is a mucous membrane like material in the middle of the umbilicus with a hole in the center and intestinal flow out with a foul smell, and the surrounding skin is eroded. This is caused by the yolk duct which was connected to the umbilicus when the embryo was born, and the residual yolk duct is not closed, so it needs to be treated by hospitalization. 5. Umbilical hernia A round or semi-circular swelling in the umbilicus, which increases in size when crying and recovers when quiet, and the edge of the rhizome can be touched when the finger is probed. This is caused by the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle at the umbilicus not being closed and the peritoneum and intestinal canal protruding outward from this area when the abdominal pressure is increased. Small umbilical hernia will heal spontaneously after 1 year of age or be fixed with adhesive tape and pressure, while large umbilical hernia needs to be treated surgically after 2 to 4 years of age. 6. Umbilical eczema is caused by allergic factors that lead to skin rash in and around the navel, manifesting as papules, erosions, oozing and flaking. It can be treated by external washing with 1%-4% boric acid solution and applying zinc oxide oil.