Infection of the cord
Cleaning the cord
Once the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, your baby will have about 2 to 3 centimetres (cms) of cord still attached to their belly button. Your caregiver will place the plastic cord clamp about 1 to 2 cms from where the cord meets the baby's skin at birth. This clamp will remain on the cord until your caregiver removes it on about days 2 to 3 after the birth (depending on how long it takes to dry out).
The remaining umbilical stump will dry and shrivel over the next few days, often looking blackish-brown in colour (or grey when wet). Essentially the remaining cord stump is dying tissue. To enable it to naturally separate, it needs to disintegrate or break down at the base near the belly button. As the cord stump does this, it becomes quite sticky or gooey at the base (near the skin) and is often a little smelly. This is normal and not anything to worry about. The skin directly near the cord stump may look slightly pink or reddened during this time. This too is normal.
Image 11-39 shows a baby's umbilical cord with a cord clamp attached.
Image 11-19 shows a darkened cord, just before separation.
The cord stump will eventually thin at the base to the point where it will drop off, usually within a week or so, leaving your baby with a neat umbilicus. It is not unusual for the belly button to bleed slightly when the cord finally separates. If the cord stump is hanging on 'by a thread' it can be slightly pulled to remove it (if you feel so inclined!) Your baby won't feel any pain - it is similar to pulling off a torn fingernail that is just hanging on.
