What should I do if the umbilical cord has not fallen off and is bleeding?

Newborn babies will have an umbilical cord wound on their belly, and as time goes by, the umbilical cord will gradually dry up and fall off, forming a belly button. However, during the drying process, the umbilical cords of many babies bleed. In severe cases, it may induce wound infection and endanger the life and health of the baby. Therefore, we must attach great importance to the umbilical cord. Let’s take a look at what to do if the umbilical cord has not fallen off and is bleeding?

Step 1: Observe the symptoms of umbilical cord bleeding. If the newborn's umbilical cord has not fallen off and is still accompanied by bleeding symptoms, parents should first immediately check whether the newborn's umbilical cord is infected by external pathogens, observe whether there is redness, swelling or suppuration around the navel, how much bleeding there is, and whether the bleeding does not stop.

Step 2: Dealing with minor bleeding 1. Wipe with alcohol It is normal for a newborn's umbilical cord to have a minor bleeding if it has not fallen off. Parents do not need to be nervous. Just wipe off the blood on the belly button with 75% ethanol (medical alcohol). 2. Bandage to stop bleeding and then cover with sterilized gauze and bandage the navel with a bandage. It will usually heal in a few days without the need to use hemostatic drugs. 3. To prevent infection, keep the area clean, dry and hygienic to prevent bacterial infection and prevent re-bleeding caused by friction. It is recommended that the baby wear an umbilical cord protector. Step 3: Dealing with persistent or heavy bleeding If the newborn's umbilical cord has not fallen off and the bleeding continues for a long time and the amount is heavy, the baby may have omphalitis caused by an umbilical cord infection. In this case, in addition to taking the above disinfection and hemostasis measures, parents must also take the newborn to the doctor for treatment immediately. If the newborn also has fever, tearful eyes, weak spirit, and poor feeding, you should be alert to sepsis and seek medical attention urgently without delay.

How to prevent the newborn from bleeding again if the umbilical cord has not fallen off. 1. Prevent the newborn from crying incessantly. If the newborn often cries incessantly, it will cause the newborn's abdominal pressure to continue to rise, resulting in incomplete opening of the blood vessels in the baby's umbilical cord area, causing bleeding in the belly button. Therefore, parents should pay special attention when taking care of newborns. When the newborn is hungry, has poop, or feels uncomfortable, they should deal with it in time, pick up the baby and comfort him to prevent the baby from crying and to avoid bleeding again when the newborn's umbilical cord has not fallen off. 2. Keep the umbilical cord dry. The umbilical cord of a newborn should be kept dry before it falls off naturally. If the base of the umbilical cord is accidentally wetted during bathing, it is best for the mother to wipe the area clean with a clean cotton swab first, and then perform umbilical cord care to allow the umbilical cord to fall off as soon as possible to avoid bleeding from the belly button.

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