Is her cord falling off too early? Gross...

arcook0307 · August 2013

I notice LOs cord accidentally lifts a little by accident when I clean it. It's really gross to see what's underneath for me.....and it looks really raw. I am so afraid I'm going to pull it off when I pick her up. I read that the body suits are a bad idea since it needs air to dry out but this seems to help us keep from accidentally nick it or something. Worried it's going to come off and get infected! I've already noticed some blood on a few of her outfits...

amandalgreene86 · August 2013

Some cords fall off within days, others months. Just keep it dry and clean. If you become really concerned with it, call your pediatrician. There isn't a magic time that it falls off though. When it does fall off there will probably be a little blood...this is normal. In the mean time, while it's detatching, there could be some goop/blood. If it gets a bad smell, call the dr.

sgerrity23 · August 2013

Just keep putting alcohol on it. We used body suits on her and as long as you keep the diaper folded down, it will be fine.

costa2011 · August 2013

We were told to just leave it be by the hospital staff and our pediatrician. Unless there are signs of it being infected, it's normal for it to have some goopiness and even bleed a little as it loosens or comes off.

sfeebs13 · August 2013

The nurses is the hospital said when we were discharged only use alcohol on the cord stump and it would fall off within a week or two. the stump fell off when LO was 5d old.

She is fine. No bleeding, no rawness. It will fall off when its ready.

There are different opinions on cleaning it. Water is not good.

pinottoparenthood · August 2013

FYI, when the stump does fall off, it's normal for there to be some blood and goop and for it to seem kind of scabbed over. Just leave it alone and do sponge baths until the stump falls off. It'll be fine!

jessykay87 · August 2013

My DD's stump fell off at day 4. It was gross underneath, like a scab had been pulled off. The area dried up within a few hours, and she had a normal looking belly button the next day. There was a tiny bit of blood.

afrochick09 · August 2013

Lo's cord fell off a couple days after delivery. Keep it clean and dry with rubbing alcohol and you should be fine.

kristinyoung111 · August 2013

We just left it be. It fell off after about two weeks, with a tiny bit of bleeding. I wouldn't suggested cleaning it at all. It is better to give her sponge baths and avoid the belly button area until it falls off. It was okay even though we put onesies on her, but we did keep her in newborn diapers with the little cut out for the cord. That seemed to help.

prazenjc · August 2013

For my DS we were told to clean with alcohol. But, now they recommend not using alcohol, just to carefully clean the body around it, but to leave IT alone and just clean after it falls off.

kat012 · August 2013

Like others have said, our pedi told us to use alcohol on it at each diaper change and it should fall off on it's own. I know what you mean though, I am always worried I am going to pull it off or it's going to get stuck on something!

blondemarmot · August 2013

I had that question and the "raw" hamburger look is not real! The pedi cleaned it for me and it was just crusty blood. It looks way worse than it is. The majority of the stump fell off at around 1 week old and we still have a little goopy or wet umbilical cord deeper inside.