What if umbilical cord smells

To treat the umbilical cord infection, the healthcare provider may prescribe medicine and give instructions for cord care at home.

Your child may be prescribed medicine for infection. If so, follow all instructions for giving this medicine to your child. Make sure your child completes all of the medicine, even if he or she seems to feel better. Clean the area around the cord as directed. You may be told to use a clean, moist cloth, alcohol pads, or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Remove all drainage and clean an inch around the base. If there is a little drainage is present you may be advised to use antibiotic ointment after each cleaning.

Pat the area with a clean cloth and allow it to air-dry. This helps prevent contamination from urine and stool. If needed, cut a notch in the front of the diapers to make a space for the cord. Instead, bathe your baby with a sponge or damp washcloth. Watch for continuing signs of infection.

Continuous bleeding or a sizable spot of blood at this very young age under a month is a concern and should get checked out. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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Registry Builder New. Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Not dry like normal skin.

Usually grows in size if not treated. Can become an entry point for umbilical infections. Easily treated in the doctor's office by putting on a chemical called silver nitrate. Guidelines for Perinatal Care, It has become common practice in US hospitals. The book advises against using alcohol for routine umbilical cord care. Alcohol cord care is advised in less developed countries with high infection rates. If not, then it is operated. If the baby is eating and sleeping well, does not cry unduly, does not cry when cord is touched, there is nothing to worry about.

Leave the cord as such, tolerate the bad smell for a few more days. Once the stump falls off, the bad smell will also disappear spontaneously. However, one should not attempt to remove it forcibly. That would be painful, can cause infection and is likely to cause a scar. Dr Rachna is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital. Do you have an idea for The New Times to cover? Submit it here! By Dr.

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