What is Umbilical Cord?

It is a flexible cord like structure which connects the baby in the womb to its mother. The umbilical cord runs from an opening in the baby’s stomach to that of the placenta in the womb. The average length of  the cord happens to be about 50cm (20 inches).  

The Role Umbilical Cord Plays

Babies growing in the womb get nourishment and oxygen via placenta attached to the inner uterus wall of the mothers. Umbilical cord is what helps this placenta stay connected to the baby and provide it with the needed nutrients to grow. The cord vessels consist of:

• One vein carrying oxygen rich blood and the vital nutrients from mother's body to that of the baby.

• Two arteries returning the deoxygenated blood and other waste products like carbon dioxide from the baby to placenta

As the pregnancy nears its end, the placenta passes antibodies from your body via this umbilical cord to the baby. These antibodies provide the immunity against infections for nearly three months post the birth. 

What happens after baby's birth?

As soon as the baby is born, whether naturally or by means of an operation, the following action is taken; either by the midwife or the hospital staff:

• The umbilical cord which is about 3-4 cm from the baby’s belly button is clamped. Using a plastic clip, another clamp is placed at the other end of the umbilical cord, near to the placenta.

• The cord is then cut between the two clamps. This leaves behind a stump which will be around 2-3 cm  long on baby’s belly button. 

As the cord has no nerves, cutting causes no pain to the baby. In between 5 to 15 days post the birth, this stump dries out, turns black and falls off on its own. Once the stump comes off, the belly button gets healed in around 7-10 days. 

Taking Care of the Umbilical Stump

Until and unless the umbilical stump drops off, and baby's belly button is fully healed, it’s very important to keep that area clean and dry so as to avert any sort of infection. Here check out some important tips for taking care of the stump: 

• Very importantly, the place has to be kept fully dry and clean. 

• Baby's diaper must always be folded away from the stump. This helps the stump to stay in contact with air and also prevents it from getting in contact with the urine.
   
• Till the stump falls off, the baby must be given sponge baths rather than the tub baths. 

• Make the baby wear only a diaper plus loose T-shirt in warm weather so as to let the air circulate which apparently will speed up the drying process.

• Refrain from dressing the baby in the bodysuit-style undershirts.

• Never try to pull the stump off.

As the stump drops off, you might get to notice a little amount of blood on the diaper, which is nothing to fear of. 

Signs of infection to look for

Though occurrence of infections is very rare, but it would always be goof to consult the doctor if:

• The baby cries when the cord or the skin next to the cord is touched

• Skin near the cord base becomes red.

• There is a foul smell coming from the stump

• There is a yellowish discharge

• The stump bleeds steadily

In general, the baby's stump must falls off by 4 weeks time. However, if it takes more time than this, get in touch with the baby's doctor without any delay as this might be due to some problem with either baby's anatomy or the immune system.