The umbilicus – or belly button – is what’s left of the cord that attaches a baby to his mother before his birth. This cord channels food and oxygen from mother to baby. The cord’s cut when baby’s born, but a small stump is leftattached to his tummy.
What to expect
After your baby’s birth, your midwife will put a plastic clamp or a tie on the stump. The clamp will be taken off after a day or two, when the stump has dried and sealed. During the first few days after birth, the stump will get darker and shrivel, and will eventually fall off. Sometimes it takes a week or two. If the cord hasn’t fallen off after more than two weeks, you can check with your maternal and child health nurse.
While the stump is drying up and just after it falls off, you might notice some oozing around the belly button. This might be clear, sticky or brownish, and might leave a mark on the baby’s vest or nappy. It might also smell a little. This oozing is part of the healing process.
Cleaning and caring for the umbilicus
Keep the area clean with water. You don’t need to use soap, creams, antiseptics or alcohol to clean it, and you don’t need to bandage the belly button. Wash your hands before handling the cord stump, and avoid touching it whenever possible.
Make sure the stump dries thoroughly after bathing. The stump will dry and heal much faster if you expose it to air as much as possible, so try not to cover it with plastic pants and nappies. Fold nappies down away from the stump if you can.
If the stump gets wee or poo on it, wash it off using clean water and soap. It’s best to use a mild soap to wash poo off, because baby poo has a high percentage of fatty deposits. This can make it difficult to get off with just water.
If you’re still seeing sticky liquid several days after the stump has dropped off, see the doctor to check whether your baby has an infection. If your baby’s belly gets hot, red or swollen, and she’s feverish or otherwise unwell, see the doctor or maternal and child health nurse as soon as possible. Your baby might need antibiotics.
If your baby develops a lump near his belly button, it might be an umbilical hernia. This isn’t dangerous, but you should see your doctor or maternal and child health nurse.
