The Baby Ventures of Xing Mom

As a first-time mom, not to mention I had no help from my family. I was struggling with taking care of my baby. I did not know what to do and how to do it. So, for all you first-time parents, single parents and parents who need reminding, here are some tips on what to do.
Your newborn's umbilical cord are requires special care until it heals. Don't be afraid to clean your baby's cord. Remember, the quicker the base dries, the sooner the cord will fall off. You should clean the area each time you change your baby's diaper.

To clean the cord safely;
1. Take a cotton swab, cotton square or cotton round,
2. Clean around just the base of the cord from inward motion to outward,
3. Let it dry.

Remember to avoid covering the cord with the diaper, because the cord area should be kept dry and clean at all times. If the diaper is too high, fold it down on your baby before securing. There are also special newborn diapers which have a cut-out space for the cord. The cord area should heal in about 7-10 days.

Warning Signs:

Call your baby's pediatric caregiver if you notice that the umbilical cord stump is;

• soft
• has a strong odor
• streaked with red around the navel, or is discharging fluid.

It is normal for a few drops of blood to appear when the stump separates.