It may be ugly now, but that funny-looking little stump once delivered nutrients from you to your baby. Once your baby made his or her debut, the cord was cut, and now just a short stump remains. This stump will eventually shrink, shrivel, blacken, and then fall off sometime during the first few weeks. It looks weird, but you don’t have to be intimidated or worried. Caring for your baby’s umbilical stump isn’t rocket science, according to The Stir, which suggests:
- Do air the cord as this will help speed the drying process. Avoid dressing your baby in tight-fitting onesies or shirts.
- Don’t pull at your baby’s cord stump even though it looks like it’s about to fall off.
- Do stick to sponge baths.
Learn more about umbilical care do’s and don’ts from The Stir.
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Image Credit: The Newborn Baby
