umbilical stump

[purpleunicorn_Andi]

got a question... with Robert I never had to deal with the stump, because they had to do a cut down on him a couple days after he was born to draw blood... so they wouldn't have to keep sticking his poor heels...

how long does the stump take to fall off, and what do you do to take care of it?

 

[PegasusOnFire]

I think Christian's came off with in two weeks. and we just used a damp cloth to wipe around it. The nurse at the hospital showed us how to car for it, and one morning we found it in her diaper.

 

[Tea]

From what I can remember it was around the two week mark too. Though we were told to use a little metho on a cotton bud around the base, to help keep it clean and dry.
Tracey

 

[Surrender2Win]

it takes 2-3 weeks. My two oldest it took 3 weeks, my youngest it came off exactly at 2 weeks...it just depends on how quickly it dries out -- which is why it's important to keep it dry

 

[RoseofLima]

It has been really random- usually about 5 -10 days. You lift it up a little and then put alcohol on it with a Q-tip.

 

[jgonz]

Using alcohol actually usually preserves the umbilical cord, and it takes longer to fall off.. It needs to be dry. Using something like Goldenseal powder is great. (Just open up a capsule of Goldenseal and sprinkle some on, or you can get Herbal Cord Care (which has Goldenseal in it) http://homebirthsupplies.com/html/orderherbs.html and use that. I got the Herbal Cord Care for my last 3 babies (their umbilical stump fell off in about 4 days). We use it for all sorts of stuff now. lol

 

[RoseofLima]

Really- mine have all fallen off pretty quickly with alcohol...though I think I might have used Betadine last time.... I can't remember. Goldenseal is good stuff, though!

 

[jgonz]

One of my babies (can't remember which one now) it took ForEver for the cord to fall off. I had always been told to use alcohol... but from everything I've read in the last several years, alcohol really isn't the best choice. That's why I tried the Herbal Cord Care and I was really impressed.

 

[Krystina661]

What jgonz said is true. Putting alcohol on it can actually make it stay on longer. Best thing to do is keep it dry. It'll usually fall off in a few weeks..

 

[Singin4Him]

My baby's cord just fell off Sunday, that was a week and 5 days after he was born. We didn't use anything to clean it, they've recently discovered that using alcohol doesn't necessarily dry it up any faster.

 

[ChildByGrace]

The cord is one thing that really grosses me out. I've never had to deal with anything like that before - i'm really scared im going to do something wrong with it

 

[PegasusOnFire]

as long as you let it fall off naturally then everything will be fine, but if you pull it off, then problems can occur.

 

[Linnis]

It took 3 weeks for Ethan's to fall off. I used an alcohol wipe on it 5-6 times a day and it kept getting more and more dry. It crumbled and fell off in pieces. Kind of icky. My friend wanted me to keep the biggest piece. I wouldn't.

 

[purpleunicorn_Andi]

It took 3 weeks for Ethan's to fall off. I used an alcohol wipe on it 5-6 times a day and it kept getting more and more dry. It crumbled and fell off in pieces. Kind of icky. My friend wanted me to keep the biggest piece. I wouldn't.

ewww... I don't blame you for not wanting to keep it. mom had my brothers passy in his baby book, and for the longest time that was what I thought it was was his umbilical stump... it was in a plastic bag, and over the years had pretty much melted

 

[CrystalBrooke]

Emily's never did fall off on it's own...I took her for her for baby acne at 4 or 5 weeks and hers still hadn't fallen off so I asked the doctor about it. I had been usuing alcohol on it every time I changed her diaper and that sucker just wasn't coming off...the doctor used what looked like a long match and rubbed the base of it and it fell off that night...I found it by stepping on it lol...it fell off while I was changing her diaper and didn't even notice..I still have it

 

[Linnis]

Yeah after the top dries it helps to wiggle it around and get the under side that's still wet.

 

[ChildByGrace]

as long as you let it fall off naturally then everything will be fine, but if you pull it off, then problems can occur.

yuck - the idea of pulling it off is gross