Signs of an Infected Umbilical Cord Stump A smelly yellow discharge from the stump area. A reddening of the skin around the stump. Swelling of the navel area. Your baby crying when you touch the stump, indicating it is tender or sore.
At first, the stump might look shiny and yellow. But as it dries out, it may turn brown or gray or even purplish or blue. It'll shrivel and turn black before it falls off on its own. Usually, it comes off between 10 and 14 days after your baby is born, but can take as long as 21 days.
Signs of a problem
Much like a scab, the cord stump might bleed a little when it falls off. However, contact your baby's health care provider if the umbilical area oozes pus, the surrounding skin becomes red and swollen, or the area develops a pink moist bump. These could be signs of an umbilical cord infection.
Umbilical cord infection is fatal in up to about 15 percent of babies with an umbilical cord infection, so it's considered a medical emergency. Premature babies are at increased risk for severe complications from this type of infection because they already have a weakened immune system.
The main cause of omphalitis is exposure to any bacteria during delivery, when the umbilical cord is cut after birth or a few days later at home.
A nuchal cord is a complication that occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around the baby's neck one or more times. This is common and occurs in about 15 to 35 percent of pregnancies.
Omphalitis is an infection of the umbilical stump. It typically presents as a superficial cellulitis that can spread to involve the entire abdominal wall and may progress to necrotizing fasciitis, myonecrosis, or systemic disease.
After the cord has fallen off, the navel will gradually heal. It's normal for the center to look red at the point of separation. It's not normal if the redness spreads on to the belly. It's normal for the navel to ooze some secretions.
The stump should dry and fall off by the time your baby is 5 to 15 days old. Keep the stump clean with gauze and water only. Sponge bathe the rest of your baby, as well. Do not put your baby in a tub of water until the stump has fallen off.
The umbilical cord is a bluish-white color immediately following birth. It is attached to the mother's placenta and following delivery, will be clamped and cut close to the skin. The cord clamp can stay on the umbilical stump until the stump falls off.
Don't be afraid to clean your newborn's umbilical cord. Be sure that you have washed your hands before handling the cord. If the umbilical cord becomes soiled with urine or feces, you should clean the area when you change your baby's diaper.
Belly button yeast infections often get better on their own when you keep your navel area clean and dry. Healthy people can usually treat belly button yeast infections with an antifungal medication.
Keep your baby's healing umbilical cord clean and dry by dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and applying it to the base of the cord two to three times a day. You can lift the cord to make sure you're thoroughly cleaning the base properly.
A wet diaper on the cord keeps the cord from drying and increases the risk of infection. Do not bathe your baby in a tub or sink until the cord falls off. You may give your baby a sponge bath until then. When the cord falls off, you might notice a small pink area in the bottom of the belly button.
Atresia, aplasia, or agenesis of one artery can lead to single umbilical artery syndrome [5]. Single umbilical artery (SUA) is the most common abnormality of the umbilical cord.
A late stillbirth occurs between 28 and 36 completed pregnancy weeks. A term stillbirth occurs between 37 or more completed pregnancy weeks.
The umbilical cord can become compressed when the baby's weight, the vaginal walls, or the placenta strain the cord during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Cord compression can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the baby, risking fetal malnourishment, brain damage, or even death.
In some cases, the infection may involve the umbilical cord. Doctors refer to this as funisitis. Funisitis increases the risk of childbirth complications, such as stillbirth. Babies who are born with funisitis may experience health complications, including organ damage and long-term developmental issues.
If you think you have an infection in your belly button, you should call your doctor so that you can have the area cleaned carefully. You may also need prescription antibiotics to kill the bacteria before it spread to other parts of your body.
It is normal for the belly button to look a bit mucky or to have a red spot where the cord used to be. It can also be smelly and have some clear, sticky or brownish ooze that might leave a stain on your baby's nappy or clothes. This is part of the healing process, which may take up to seven days to mend completely.