Nutrition and diet 

The degree of healing of the umbilical wound in infants. Umbilical wound: what you need to know? The umbilical does not heal

The umbilical wound remains in all newborns after their birth. This is the place where the mother's placenta is connected to the bloodstream of the baby. Immediately after removing the baby from the womb, the umbilical cord is closed with a special clamp and cut. The flow of blood through (one vein and two arteries) stops. As a result, a small area of ​​the umbilical cord of about 2 cm remains, which is regularly treated in the maternity hospital with antiseptic solutions (hydrogen peroxide and "potassium permanganate").

Every day the remainder becomes drier, mummified. But it so happens that the navel of a newborn does not heal for too long, which worries parents. How long should it take to heal, what reasons delay its drying and how to avoid this unpleasant phenomenon?

In order to identify the problem and not worry without reason, it is useful for parents to know how much the navel heals in a newborn, according to the norm. The terms may differ from the usual indicators by 1-3 days, according to the individual characteristics of a small organism, but no more. The healing of the umbilical wound in babies occurs in stages.

  1. From the moment of birth and over the next 3-5 days, the umbilical cord in a newborn is a knot.
  2. From 3 to 5 days after birth, the umbilical cord finally dries up, falling off on its own.
  3. At 1-3 weeks of life, the baby's navel will heal like a normal, albeit rather deep wound. She may even bleed slightly at first, which is very frightening for young parents. If the bleeding is minor, don't panic.
  4. At 3-4 weeks of a baby's life, the umbilical wound heals completely.

Usually in the maternity hospital, a young mother is warned when the navel in newborns heals: this happens by the end of the first month of the baby's life. If this period is delayed, it is imperative to call a doctor who will help find out the causes of this phenomenon and eliminate them, and then prescribe treatment.

Causes

There may be several reasons why a newborn's navel does not heal for a long time. Some of them are easily corrected by the care and efforts of the parents themselves, but some can be eliminated only with the help of a doctor.

  • Large navel

For each baby, depending on the individual characteristics of the body and the state of the placenta (if it was thick), the size of the navel may differ. If it is large enough in diameter, it will take longer to heal than other babies. If this is the true reason that the navel does not heal well, there is nothing to worry about. It will certainly dry out, but it will happen more slowly, because the wound itself is large.

  • Umbilical hernia

If the baby's navel not only does not heal, but also protrudes, this is a dangerous sign of an umbilical hernia. In this case, the child should be shown to the doctor as soon as possible.

  • Poor wound care

All parents are different: someone zealously blows dust particles off a newborn, someone does not really care about hygiene. Both options are equally bad. In the first case, the mother cleans the wound too thoroughly, thereby damaging the thin skin again and again. In the second case, dirt or some kind of foreign body can get in. In any case, the wound can bleed, and there can be no question of healing. It is imperative to consult a doctor for advice. Perhaps he will have to remove a foreign body from the umbilical wound in a newborn, since it is strictly forbidden to carry out such manipulations at home.

  • Weakened immunity

Babies can be born too weak when the fragile immunity is susceptible to various infections and microbes. It is very difficult for such an organism to independently cope with the healing of such a serious wound as the umbilical. If the reason that the child's navel does not heal for too long (in this case, he may bleed) is weak immunity, medical intervention and medications cannot be dispensed with.

  • Suppuration

If an infection has entered the wound after contamination, severe suppuration may begin in it, which is usually accompanied by a foul smell and incomprehensible discharge. At the same time, drying slows down, the navel remains wet for a long time. In this case, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

There can be many reasons for this phenomenon. By the end of the first month of a baby's life, parents begin to worry about what to do if the newborn's navel does not heal, how they can help their baby. If wound healing is delayed for more than a month, you must go to the hospital and not take any independent action. This can harm the baby's health and aggravate his condition. Only a doctor can determine the true cause of this unpleasant and painful phenomenon and prescribe the appropriate treatment. It should be remembered that it is much easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. This also applies to the healing of the umbilical wound in newborns.

Prevention

In order for the baby's navel to heal as quickly as possible, parents must initially provide proper wound care. This will make life easier for the baby and prevent a long and painful healing of the navel.

  1. The first 7-10 days, the umbilical wound should be treated with "green" (it is preferable to potassium permanganate). It is recommended to do this once a day after bathing before going to bed.
  2. When a crust forms on the umbilical wound, it is better not to remove it: the risk of damage to the skin is very high. Better to let it fall away on its own.
  3. During the healing period of the navel of babies, it is better to bathe in a separate, baby bath. It is recommended to boil water for these procedures and then cool it to 36-37 ° C. It is good to add a solution of "potassium permanganate" to the bath so that the water turns into a slightly pink hue.

If a newborn's umbilical wound does not heal for a very long time (more than a month after his birth), this is a signal that something has gone wrong, and it is imperative and necessary to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible. Any independent actions can only worsen the condition of the child in general and the wounds in particular.

Caring for a baby, especially a newly born baby, is not an easy process. It requires certain skills and knowledge from parents. Let's try to understand when the navel heals in a newborn. In addition, you will also have to learn everything about caring for this part of the body in babies. Otherwise, you can earn a huge number of problems. They will certainly reflect on your child. This is a very unpleasant outcome. Therefore, it is better to learn about the proper care of the newborn's navel.

In the maternity hospital

Immediately after birth, the baby is cut off the umbilical cord - it is no longer needed to continue life. A large clamp is left at the incision site. It is somewhat reminiscent of a clothespin. Serves to prevent bleeding.

The navel will have to be processed in order to speed up the healing process, as well as prevent the wound from rotting. In the maternity hospital, this is done by doctors and nurses. Parents know practically nothing about the manipulations being carried out. Instead, they ask how long it takes for the navel to heal in newborns. Nobody will give you an exact answer. They can only say "soon" or "quickly". Indeed, if you properly care for the baby, then the wound will heal as soon as possible.

Regeneration

In general, it is difficult to understand our today's question. After all, if you are thinking how much the navel heals in a newborn, you need to understand that all people are different. And those who have just been born, too. They differ in character and health status.

The rate of cell regeneration plays an important role here. It is different for all people. Therefore, for some, wounds and abrasions heal faster, for others - longer. You need to understand this. Depending on this indicator, the answer to the question of how long the navel heals in newborns will change.

To be honest, no one can answer you so easily. Initially, it is not known how quickly cells are regenerated in a particular child. Therefore, you can only rely on your own assumptions. Children with a quick recovery can be left without a clothespin in 3-4 days, with a long one - a week and a half after birth. Everything is individual.

We're going home

Sooner or later, you. By that time, doctors usually tell the approximate time when the navel in newborns will heal. Yes, it has already been said that everything is individual. But the general framework still exists.

The fact is that usually after returning from the hospital, the clothespin is held in place of the navel for about 3-4 days. And complete healing will take about 10 days on average (taking into account the maternity hospital). It is for this period that young parents are usually oriented.

Just remember: this is not entirely correct. After all, it is difficult to answer exactly when the navel heals in newborns. You can't equate everyone. For some, it will take longer, for others, faster. This must be remembered. The only thing that will be required from the parents in a given period of time is to properly handle the umbilical wound. If you follow some of the tips and tricks that are given in the hospital, you can speed up the process.

An interesting fact is that even after the child's clothespin falls off, the wound will have to be treated for some time. And this is far from 2 days. On average, a week. Only then can it be said with certainty that the navel has completely healed. Nothing special is required from the parents. So how do you care for your baby during healing?

Putting together a first aid kit

The first step is to assemble a small first aid kit. It should contain all the means necessary for treating the umbilical wound in an infant. During the period when the navel heals in a newborn, you must have:

  • hydrogen peroxide;
  • potassium permanganate;
  • brilliant green;
  • cotton swabs and discs.

This will be enough to somehow speed up the healing process. True, sometimes people do without this list.

Now that all the necessary components are there, you need to learn about the process of caring for the wound. You will have to pay special attention to the navel after the clothespin falls off. Next - a little more about caring for a newborn. The rules for parents are extremely simple.

Navel treatment

How long does the navel take to heal in newborns? It has already been said that everything is individual. If the wound is properly treated, you can only speed up the healing process. Take the first-aid kit you collected earlier - without it you won't be able to bring the idea to life.

The main ingredient you need is hydrogen peroxide. She needs to process the navel of the newborn once a day. While there is a clothespin, gently blot the area with a cotton swab or disc. Further, everything is much simpler.

You will have to drip peroxide onto your navel and wait. As soon as the liquid foams, quickly blot it with a cotton pad. It is advisable to repeat this procedure 2 times.

Subsequent manipulations

When a newborn's navel heals, proper care must be taken. After treating the wound with peroxide, you will need to do additional manipulations. Which ones?

Dry the baby's navel after hydrogen peroxide. And then treat with brilliant green. For this, cotton swabs are ideal. Some advise using iodine or potassium permanganate instead of brilliant green. Many doctors point out that such options are possible, but at home it is best to use the most common brilliant green. It promotes healing much faster than all other components.

How much to process the umbilical wound? It is difficult to answer. Everything is individual. After all, the duration of such procedures depends solely on how much the navel heals in a newborn. While the peroxide foams after application, you will have to treat the wound. As soon as you notice that this process has stopped, you can rejoice: the navel is 100% healed!

Bathing

Basically, this is almost all that concerns leaving. It is clear how long the navel heals in newborns. You just have to remember a few more simple rules of behavior. They also concern changing and putting on diapers.

The thing is that it is necessary to carry out water procedures with the baby every day. In this case, you have to be very careful with the child. Especially until the clothespin fell off. Try not to touch her while bathing. And immerse the baby not in ordinary water, but with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will contribute to the rapid healing of the umbilical wound. It is necessary to wipe the child after water procedures gently, with blotting movements.

Diapers

You can swaddle a newborn with a clothespin in place of the navel. Just not very tight. If you do not know how to do this, you can do without this process altogether.

In the modern world, baby diapers are very popular. For them, one feature also takes place: you need to put them on the child so that the material does not touch the navel. As long as there is a clothespin, you can simply bend the diaper under it. And after it falls off, you will have to tuck the diaper before fastening. The main thing is that the navel is open. A little practice and you will succeed! This is the only way not to think about how long the navel heals in newborns.

Does not heal

Don't worry if your child hasn't healed for several days. It has been said that the average healing time is about 10 days. Don't panic if you still need to cleanse the wound. It is not dangerous for the child. The main thing is that no infection gets into the wound.

Does the navel in a newborn not heal? What to do? Just carry out all of the above procedures and not injure the wound. In no case should you tear off the clothespin yourself - it will fall off by itself when required.

You will most likely notice some congealed blood on the baby's belly button. You cannot remove it yourself, just dissolve it. It is advisable to do this with hydrogen peroxide. Or while swimming. Particles of frozen blood will fall off on their own.

Now it is clear when the navel heals in a newborn and how to care for the umbilical wound.

Hello dear readers! You know, communicating with young mothers, I increasingly see their worries about the babies. No, this process is quite normal. But here the excitement is based on comparing our own children with the children of friends. And the first concern for young parents is the question: how much does the navel heal in newborns?

Dear parents, of course, there is a generally accepted framework. But remember that everyone's body is unique. I will talk in this article about the stages of healing and deviations, which sometimes do not entail consequences.

So, after giving birth, the umbilical cord connecting you and your baby 9 months old is cut off. But not completely, about 2 centimeters remain. A clothespin clings here. More often, the discharge occurs without it. There are exceptions, though. In general, it takes about 4 weeks from the moment of birth to complete healing.

The term may be shorter. Well, I will not torment it anymore, it heals in stages:

    At the first stage, the umbilical cord is cut off. The stump remains.

    Drying and falling off of the remainder of the umbilical cord. This happens in about 3 to 7 days. Sometimes the term is delayed up to 10 days. I even heard that the remainder fell off after 2 weeks! And this was not a deviation! Can you imagine? It also happens. Why? I'll tell you later.

    After falling off, a wound remains. And at the third stage, it heals. How long? If all is well, this period lasts 15 to 25 days.

But sometimes there are deviations from these norms in the big direction. It is considered that if the next stage exceeds the period by 3 days, this is permissible. But if more, rather, we are talking about a deviation.

Causes of slow healing of the navel

Why is there a delay? There are several reasons for this. And not everyone talks about bad things. I have put together the entire list for you. Here it is:

    The umbilical cord is too thick. This is just a physiological feature of the baby. More common in large children. Although, you can't guess. Remember, I said at the beginning that I read about the clothespin, which fell off already on the 14th day? It was just a thick umbilical cord. The doctor came for an examination, touched the stump, and it fell off. Well, accordingly, the wound itself healed longer than usual.

    Infection. Here are the first harbingers, pus, redness. But only a doctor can determine the infectious origin.

    Poor care. Perhaps there is no infection, but procedures that help dry and heal the wound are not properly performed.

    Weak immunity. Because of this, by the way, an infection can develop. So watch out, dear parents!

In general, there are several signs by which you can determine whether this is a deviation or a norm. So let's check our numbers.

When to go to the hospital

It will be safer for any parent to consult a doctor when a deviation from the temporary norm has simply occurred. If it heals for a long time. And I myself adhere to this policy. Better to be safe. But there are a number of signs when you have to, without thinking, take your legs in your hands and run to the hospital!

    Redness of the umbilical region.

    Fever and swelling near the navel.

    Increased body temperature of the newborn.

    Fetid odor from the umbilical cord.

    I would say just non-drying.

    When . Note that we are not talking about two drops when the clothespin began to fall off. It's not scary. I'm talking about the bleeding procedure. Perhaps not abundant, but frequent.

Tell me, are there any signs of your little one? I hope no. Based on this, I can draw a conclusion. If there are no such signs, and healing exceeds the expected time, then there is nothing terrible. Again, ask your pediatrician. Better to let him confirm that the baby is all right, and you sigh calmly!

How to identify a healed navel?

The first thing that comes to mind is the advice of our wise pediatrician: determine by peroxide. Yes, we treated our daughter's navel with peroxide, although many now say that it provokes wetness. If you process it once or twice a day, it is unlikely that the wound got wet from peroxide.

In general, we return to our rams. When you drip peroxide onto an unhealed navel, a hiss is observed. This means that there is a wound. When there is no hissing during this procedure, it means that the navel has healed. Processing is no longer needed.

Sometimes a healed and beautiful navel is covered with a crust. Parents are afraid to rip it off. Yes, this is useless. First, you can try to soak it with the same peroxide after bathing. If it doesn't go away, wait. The time has not come. But in no case should it be torn off with force. After soaking under the crust, mothers find their baby's healed and healthy navel.

Ideally, this is a small scar that does not protrude outward, does not shine, does not smell. Its color does not differ from the color of the skin of the tummy. And if you see a protrusion, rather, it is an umbilical hernia. Be sure to show the child to the surgeon. But most likely he will direct you home. These hernias disappear by the age of three. Perhaps earlier. The peculiarity of the crumbs, because he often cries.

Prevention measures

What you shouldn't do is ignore your pediatrician's advice. Spend every day. Once or twice, if there is no problem. With some deviations, the number of treatments increases, depending on the reason. Well, so that these deviations do not arise, follow these rules:

    Bathe only in boiled water, for now. You can add a little potassium permanganate, but only very little. It dries strongly. And see that the crystals are completely dissolved at the same time. Instead of potassium permanganate, I added a series once a week.

    Make sure that the navel does not get wet when bathing. Especially if there is a clamp. When clamping, in general, you can wipe the crumb with napkins. No bathing.

    When treating with peroxide, after the hiss, blot everything dry. Only then smear with brilliant green or other antiseptic.

    Do not wrap the child. Make sure that the diaper does not press on the wound.

    Spread out more often the baby without clothes. In the air, healing processes are faster.

Tell us, how many days does your baby's navel heal? Have you noticed any unpleasant symptoms? How does the doctor comment on this? Perhaps you are on schedule? Or even earlier? Then share the secret of how this was achieved! Leave comments and subscribe to blog updates. It will be interesting! Bye!

How long does it take for the umbilical wound to heal, why does it not heal for a long time, how to properly care for it?

What is the umbilical cord, how is it formed, its functions

At the beginning of the embryo's birth, it connects to the fetal membrane using the so-called amniotic leg, which eventually develops into the umbilical cord. Initially, the umbilical cord consists of 2 veins and arteries. Later, the arteries remain, and the veins merge into one highway. The vein supplies the fetus with nutrients, and the arteries remove everything unnecessary from the body of the unborn child.

For the entire period of gestation, the umbilical cord is lengthened to 70 centimeters. An interesting fact - the more the baby moves inside the womb, the longer the umbilical cord becomes. The umbilical cord is soft to the touch, it is not empty but filled with a special gel-like substance called warton jelly. Due to this, if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck of the unborn baby, this does not always lead to undesirable consequences, in most cases a healthy baby is born. The umbilical cord connects the baby's body with the placenta, through which all important processes occur that contribute to the correct development of the fetus. She is also the first toy of the baby, many mothers, during an ultrasound examination, could observe how the child grabs the umbilical cord and jerks it funny.

After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut off. The opinions of scientists about when it is better to cut the umbilical cord were divided, modern doctors believe that there is no need to rush to cut it, it is worth waiting a little until the pulsation passes and the child receives the last portions of blood, which will have a beneficial effect on his further development. Other experts disagree with this opinion and believe that cutting the umbilical cord can be done immediately after birth. A special clothespin is placed on the umbilical cord or tied with a silk thread. The remainder of the umbilical cord dries out within a week and disappears, a navel forms in its place. Those veins and arteries that were connected to the umbilical cord become part of the urinary system.

How long does a baby's navel take to heal?

The umbilical wound heals in each baby in its own way. Someone for one and a half to two weeks, others longer. The main thing is that the time frame does not exceed three to four weeks. Healing occurs in several stages:
  • After the clamp is installed, the umbilical cord is cut and a small stump remains, which should dry off on its own.
  • The remainder of the umbilical cord dries out for several days, about 5. Then it disappears.
  • A wound forms in its place. It heals as usual, but takes a little longer. During this time, the umbilical wound may bleed or ooze.
  • At about 3 or 4 weeks, the wound completely heals naturally.
If the healing is delayed, then something is wrong. The navel heals for a long time for various reasons.

The reasons why the navel does not heal for a long time

Poor wound care

One of the main reasons for long-term healing of the navel is improper care or lack of it. It is important not to go too far during care or, on the contrary, not to miss the infection. With too much care, the wound is exposed to constant injury and irritation, which does not contribute to rapid healing. When the care is poor, it is possible to get into and develop an infectious disease, which, of course, will negatively affect healing.

Redness inside the navel in a baby, causes and solutions to the problem

Redness inside a newborn's navel may indicate an infection. If a similar phenomenon is found, the first thing to do is to treat the navel with hydrogen peroxide and then lubricate with any antiseptic, but not alcohol-based, so that irritation of the skin does not increase. If within a few days the redness does not go away, but on the contrary suppuration appears, you need to show the child to the doctor.

Omphalitis

When an infection gets in, a disease such as omphalitis develops. It is accompanied by purulent discharge, an increase in the temperature of the skin near the umbilical wound and the whole body, intoxication of the child's body, redness. Omphalitis can turn into a complex, dangerous form.

Suppuration

Pus occurs when pathogenic bacteria enter. At the same time, a putrid smell appears. It is clear that in such conditions, the wound will heal for a very long time. If such symptoms occur, it is necessary to urgently consult a pediatrician, the earlier treatment is started, the more chances are to quickly eliminate the infection and the consequences of its vital activity.

Large navel

All babies have an umbilical wound, as well as the diameter of the umbilical cord. Sometimes it is quite thick. In this case, the navel will be larger, and hence the wound. Accordingly, it will take several times longer to heal. Moreover, if there are no other deviations, there is no reason to worry, the wound will heal, but a little later.

Umbilical hernia

In addition to a wound, a hernia may form in the umbilical cavity. It can be seen with the naked eye in the form of a tubercle. It occurs mainly due to the frequent tension of the tummy area due to physical exertion or prolonged crying. Needs treatment, sometimes surgical correction.

The baby's navel got out what to do

Most often, a prolapse of the navel is associated with tension in the abdominal muscles. It looks like a hernia. This usually happens when the baby screams violently, pushes during bowel movements. There is an old "old-fashioned" way of dealing with this phenomenon. Of course, you must first consult your doctor. You can take an old, necessarily copper coin, you can wash it and clean it well. Put on the navel and secure with a plaster, provided that the navel is completely healthy, there is no infection or purulent discharge in it. Shoot at night. Use for several weeks.

How to treat a baby's navel hernia

A hernia is called the protrusion of internal organs through the anterior abdominal wall or, as in our case, through the umbilical ring. After the navel heals, the umbilical ring contracts, but it happens that a hernia forms. In infants, this is quite common. Happens after the baby cried for a long time. During the cry, strong crying, the baby's stomach is very tense and where the weak spot is blown out a hernia. Another reason for the formation of an umbilical hernia can be frequent constipation, flatulence, colic. The most radical method of treating a hernia is surgery, but it is extremely rare in infancy. Basically, the doctor tells how to properly care for such a child, and over time, the hernia may disappear.

Weakened immunity

Sometimes the navel does not heal for a long time due to a weak immune system. The baby's body is weakened and cannot cope with the healing of the umbilical wound. In this case, it is impossible to hesitate, perhaps the child needs drug treatment and strengthening the protective functions of the body.

The navel of a newborn is bleeding, what to do

For the first few weeks, while the navel heals, it is normal for a small amount of blood or ichor to drain. However, if the navel does not heal for a long time and continues to bleed, you need to find out the cause before treating it. There are many reasons for this problem:
  • Hernia.
  • Granuloma.
  • Blood vessel pathology.
  • Infection.
  • Foreign body.
  • Immune system disorders.
Treatment is given depending on the cause. In most cases, you need to bathe your baby in a decoction of herbs with antiseptic properties, such as chamomile or calendula. Wipe dry, treat with peroxide and lubricate with brilliant green or fucorcin. If the problem worsens, the wound does not heal for a long time, then you need to seek medical help.

The navel of a newborn - a smell appeared

The appearance of a bad odor from the umbilical wound is an alarming signal. This usually indicates that a fungal or bacterial infection has appeared. In this case, it is better to see a specialist and get qualified help and not self-medicate.

The navel of a newborn is bulging

In newborn babies, after the remainder of the umbilical cord falls off, the navel is slightly convex for some time, and over time it retracts. However, it happens that after a short period of time, the navel becomes convex again. There are several reasons - hernia, fistula and just such a feature. If the bulge is dry, without any signs of infection, it may be a variant of the norm for an individual baby. If there is a discharge from the navel, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Why does a baby's navel get wet

A constantly weeping navel is usually the result of improper care of the umbilical wound. Excessive use of antiseptics, prolonged use of the patch. Perhaps the diaper is rubbing. It is necessary to discard all the reasons and understand what is the matter. If there is an infection, then the right therapy is needed. In any case, such a problem should alert the mother and force her to meet with the pediatrician.
Proper care of the umbilical wound is a very important part of overall newborn care. Even in the maternity hospital, the nurse treats the navel correctly and she should be asked how to do the same at home so that such problems do not arise.

How to properly handle a baby's navel

With the right approach to the treatment of the umbilical wound, it heals on time. This requires:
  • The first 10 days after discharge from the hospital, treat the wound after water procedures, once a day with an antiseptic. As a rule, ordinary brilliant green, but sometimes doctors recommend using a fucorcin solution or streptocide powder.
  • If a thick crust occurs in the area of ​​the umbilical wound, it is not advisable to remove it until it falls off itself. If it is not thick, then it can be pre-softened with hydrogen peroxide, then carefully removed with a cotton swab.
  • When the navel heals, it is better to bathe the baby in boiled water, sometimes you can add a solution of potassium permanganate. Use a separate bath for this, having previously disinfected it. The water temperature should be no higher than 37 degrees Celsius.
If the wound does not heal for a long time, seek help from a doctor to quickly cope with the problem.

What to do after the umbilical cord has fallen off?

After the remainder of the umbilical cord falls off, the wound will open. It must be processed every day in the usual way, as before. Only now it is possible not only to apply antiseptics from the outside, but also to process it inside. For the first time, you can close the wound with a plaster, while it drags on a little, then open it, it will heal faster. During this period, it is necessary to carefully bathe the baby, put on a diaper and clothes so as not to disturb him once again.

What should a newborn's healed navel look like?

A healed navel is as light as the rest of the skin around it, clean and dry. At first, even after healing, a slight release of blood or ichor is possible - this is normal and there is nothing to worry about. You can check the degree of healing with hydrogen peroxide, if it stops foaming, then the wound has healed.
Remember that how quickly it heals depends on the care of the umbilical wound. It is important to follow all the doctor's recommendations and not overdo it. Too frequent treatment is just as harmful as lack of grooming.

How and how much the navel heals in a newborn, how to take care of the wound - these questions are asked by parents to pediatricians when a baby is born and is discharged from the hospital. To get rid of fears, to avoid the risk of developing pathologies, you need to know about care and the reasons why it can take longer to heal.

What happens in the hospital

At the birth of a child, the umbilical cord is cut off, and closer to the tummy it is clamped with a clothespin. The doctor familiarizes the mother with the rules for caring for the wound while still in the maternity hospital: he himself treats the wound, thereby equipping the mother with the necessary information, showing and explaining how long the navel will heal in the newborn.

In the next 4-10 days, the tail with a clothespin should fall off at the place of pinching. Sometimes this takes longer. An open wound remains, which requires further careful care.

After the umbilical cord has fallen off, the wound must be dried immediately. A regular air bath will help. If the navel is clean and dry, no treatment is required.

If the clothespin dries up and heals, but does not disappear for more than 10 days, increase the number of air baths throughout the day, they will speed up the drying of the wound.

3 stages of healing

The umbilical cord is healed in stages. To get acquainted with how the navel heals in a newborn and not to panic in vain will help knowledge about the stages of healing the navel in a newborn:

The clothespin is sterile and made from safe material

1
During the first 5-10 days, the umbilical cord is a knot or tail clamped with a clothespin. During this period, it dries up and falls off on its own.
2
The wound may bleed slightly for the first 3 weeks, but this should not scare the parents. An umbilical wound, like any other, takes time to heal.
3
During the period of life from 3 to 4 weeks, the baby's umbilical cord is completely healed.

Newborn care at home

When the clothespin falls off, newly minted mothers wonder: when does the umbilical wound heal? With proper hygiene, the umbilical wound heals quickly - after 3-4 weeks not a trace will remain.

It is important to observe hygiene standards and ensure proper hygiene, since there is a risk of infection in the wound, and this will lead to complications during healing.

Wound treatment: what and how to treat

The following medications will help prevent infection:

  1. Hydrogen peroxide... A 3% solution will get rid of the ichor and accelerate healing.
  2. Chlorhexidine- odorless and colorless antiseptic, safe to use.
  3. Zelenka- an excellent disinfectant if used in small quantities. Using too much of the drug may cause burns. In addition, if redness appears on the area of ​​the skin treated with Zelenka, it will be impossible to see it due to the bright color of this drug.
  4. Potassium permanganate... A solution of weak concentration is a good remedy in the fight against infection and bacteria, but crystals should not be allowed to get on the delicate skin of the baby around the navel.
In order not to injure the child's skin and protect it from drying out or burns, brilliant green should be applied carefully and only on the wound

Air baths

The ability to "breathe" the umbilical cord will help it dry out and tighten much faster, do not fester. The duration of air baths directly depends on how much the navel heals in a newborn.

Air baths will not only help the navel heal as soon as possible, but also temper the child, strengthen his immunity

Air baths after swimming are very important. It's good to do them between yourself or changing a diaper.

The diaper should not come into contact with the umbilical cord area, rub, block the air supply... To do this, you can use special diapers with a cut for the navel.

In the absence of such diapers, the recess can be cut out by yourself or simply tucked in the edge.

Which diapers are best for newborns, read this.

Liseicheva E.A., pediatrician, City Hospital No. 2, Samara

Sometimes the navel looks like a tall tree stump. Do not think that this is a pathology or it was poorly tied by obstetricians. This is a skin tubercle, so the child got it.

Over time, its appearance will improve, the fat formed on the stomach will allow it to smooth out and a beautiful dimple will form in this place.

How to determine the condition and why healing is delayed

You can understand that the umbilical cord has healed by the following signs:

  • skin color does not differ from the skin;
  • no purulent discharge;
  • body temperature is normal.
With suppuration of the navel, antiseptics are selected individually

There are times when the navel heals poorly in newborns:

  • purulent discharge or an unpleasant odor is formed;
  • does not stop bleeding;
  • redness is formed around the navel, swelling;
  • body temperature rises;
  • the umbilical cord gets wet for a long time.

This is an example of poor healing when it comes to seeing a pediatrician.
Problems with the umbilical wound occur quite often. The reasons for this may be not only improper care, but also:
1
Granuloma... The reason is the rapid growth of tissues and capillaries. Therefore, the vessels are confused, as a result of which the navel in a newborn does not heal well, the wound bleeds. The pediatrician will deal with the problem with the method of cauterization with a pencil with a silver rod, which can kill germs.
2
Hernia... Parents are able to detect it on their own, since the umbilical ring in this case increases in size and looks like a bump. No worries. First you need to consult your doctor. This can often be done with massage. Read about the reasons for the weakness of the umbilical ring.

Infection... Parents should be alerted to redness around the wound. The following symptoms can also confirm that the infection has got to the wound:

  • touching the tummy causes pain in the child;
  • the wound gets wet all the time;
  • the wound festers and smells bad.

4
Very large umbilical cord... It takes more time to heal.

Reztsova E.M., pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences, Kirov State Medical Academy, Kirov

Do not be alarmed by the appearance of yellow or red discharge, as well as crusts on the navel. During processing, you need to carefully remove those crusts that have already exfoliated.

But if the navel has not yet fallen off, it is strictly forbidden to tear it off yourself.

5
Injury to the skin... Due to excessive care, mothers themselves injure the new skin and prevent it from healing. Do not try to do anything on your own. See your doctor, as you will need special medications to fight bacteria, and in case of complications, even surgery is possible.

6
Weakened immunity... This situation is common, especially when a baby is born prematurely. In this case, special attention should be paid to strengthening the immune system, and also to be more attentive to the issues of wound treatment.