Using Triple dye on Umbilical Cord

jmayamama

Is anyone deciding not to let the hospital use triple dye on their baby's umbilical cord stump?

Any resources or insight would be appreciated

MissyOlivePants

This is something I must admit I am completely ignorant of.  What is it?

happyhoopla

I work in a NICU and the hospital where I work doesn't use triple dye or recommend using alcohol on the umbilical cord stump. The cord heals just as quickly (if not faster) when it is just left alone.

Temp76535187505890

After the nurse bathed DD she asked me if I wanted it put on or not because we were using cloth diapers and she knew it might stain.  I opted to not have it put on but only because of that.  I'm also ignorant of any possible side effects. 

aggieabbie02

I've always been told not to use anything on it, except for possibly goldenseal (which stains) and that alcohol actually prolongs it falling off. Not sure about the triple dye, but if it is alcohol based... 

Germanwife2b

The hospital I work for still uses it and recommends using alcohol and I've not heard of any ill effects (but I have also read studies that it doesn't make the cord fall off any faster).

With DS, we did not use anything but alcohol and it took forever to fall off and it smelled really, really bad (so bad that we took him in to the pedi at 2 1/2 weeks of age to see if it was infected- she said it wasn't but that it was just rotting tissue).  None of my friends who had used triple dye had EVER had this problem.  I am contemplating using triple dye with DC #2 or just doing nothing (no alcohol or anything) because man- that was so gross!

Texas77again

i don't use triple dye, never heard of it actually.  i just recommend the clients use whatever they want, even if that is nothing.  i advise them to let me know if there is a concern of infection- red, pus, foul odor. 

jmayamama

Triple dye is a disinfectant that the nurses rub on the cord stump to prevent infection.

We all know that dyes like red #40 for example are no good but I have no idea what brilliant green or proflavine hemisulfate is...

The solution also has gentian violet which is fine...

I wonder how hard it is to let it air dry without the diaper being in the way....

mamaweebie

The hospital where I delivered DS didn't put anything on his cord stump, as far as I know, and we never did either.  I simply folded the front of his diaper down so it didn't rub over his navel, and left it alone.  It fell off about a week later, I believe.  I know that there are a couple of brands of newborn diapers which have a little crescent-shaped cutout at the top of the front, to accommodate the cord stump (one brand is sold at Wal-Mart, I think.  Not that I advocate shopping there if at all avoidable....).

I was always told to just keep it nice and dry, and leave it alone.  It will fall off on its own.

Lori

Wife to Morgan, Mom to Sebastian (4 years old!)

Little BOY #2 on the way!  Due 11.02.2010