Ep 7 - Umbilical Cord Care - What to expect and anything you should or shouldn’t do or use around this area!

February 07, 2019
BabyDoc Club
For the UK and Ireland.
Welcome to the BabyDoc Basics podcast on Umbilical Cord Care!

Today we are going to discuss umbilical cord care for your new born! What to expect and anything you should or shouldn’t do or use around this area! Also any products available in both the UK and Ireland to help.

In the studio today is Karen (BabyDoc Club Ireland) and dialling in is Lucy (BabyDoc Club UK).
DISCLAIMER – all information is based on the experience of our Mummysavers. No brand or retailer has paid to feature in this – all recommendations are genuine.
Well to start off a little bit on the cord itself:
THE Umbilical cord provides your baby with all the nutrients and oxygen from mum while pregnant and after delivery the cord is them clamped and cut.
What is left looks like a little stump and takes anything from a few days to a couple weeks dry out and fall away naturally!
You will probably see the cord in the sleep suit one day when changing! A little gross but hey you will see many gross things when you become a parent!
So a couple of things to remember while you wait for the cord to come away naturally…it’s important to keep the area as CLEAN and DRY as much as possible to help the healing process! 
Nappies - make sure you use a new born size nappy that is the correct size and fit! Its important that the nappy edge doesn’t cover the umbilical cord to allow the air to circulate…also its keep the ‘not so nice contents’ of the nappy away from the naval area…look out for nappy designs that have an area cut out from the edge of the nappy designed to sit neatly under the cord. Or you can just fold down the nappy edge if not!  New born nappies range in prices..,pampers new baby essential packs are usually £7/8 or 9/10e….in Ireland …(but look out for half price offers- we will always keep you posted in our weekly mummy saver rounds ups for the best deals out there). Pampers new born sizes 1 and 2 has the naval friendly shape to sit under the cord too so very handy!
But… I am a big fan of the Aldi mamia range that are just 85p or 1.49e a pack for new born nappies! But it’s a personal choice! But many supermarkets will do there own brand too so worth shopping around!

Until the stump has fallen away avoid soaking in the bath unnecessarily. It’s just as easy to just perform a sponge baths initially especially with ‘a top and tail bowl’! These are  plastic bowls with two separate water areas – one for face and the other for body so you can keep the water separate for sperate areas…Making it a hygienic wash!  Boots sell these for 3.99e/£3.99 also but can get them in Mothercare/ mamas and papas and check online too!
When cleaning and drying the cord keep things simple…no lotion or potions just warm water and cotton wool. Use cotton wool or a swab to gentle clean, usually at the cord base then carefully pat dry with a clean towel. Cotton wool is widely available and is cheap as chips! Its Multi-functional, easy to use and clean so will not go to waste even after the cord is gone! Chemist, supermarkets or baby retailers will all sell these which options for under £1 or a euro!
Next point is SO important! DO NOT PICK, PULL OR POKE the area. The healing period can look a little unsightly but don’t be tempted to help and pull the cord along. Leave it be!
BUT…TOP TIP… if it looks red and swollen or has smelly discharge then DON’T hesitate to ask the midwife or your GP for advice as a nasty infections can occur! So be aware please! 
So, that’s a wrap on umbilical cord care, we hope you found this helpful…don’t forget to follow BabyDocClub on Facebook and Instagram and tune in to our next BabyDoc Basics podcast session with me….and me……thanks for listening! 

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