Umbilical Cord Care (and What to Know About Infection)

Umbilical cord care is the after-party of your pregnancy journey. You’ve come a long way, mama. As the connection between your baby and the placenta, the umbilical cord was their lifeline in the womb, delivering all the nutrients they needed to grow strong enough for the outside world.

Once your baby is born, most of the cord is snipped, leaving behind a small stump on their belly button. This little reminder of life on the inside will dry up and fall off on its own — but between the snip and the big reveal, a bit of care is needed to keep infections at bay.

The good news? Umbilical cord care is pretty simple. Let’s walk through what’s normal, what needs attention, and when it’s time to call in extra help. (Spoiler: you’ve totally got this.)

📝 In this article:

When does the umbilical cord fall off?

Here’s how it usually goes:

• The snip: After your baby is born, the umbilical cord will be cut.
• The stump: Your newborn’s belly button will look like a little stump, and will usually be a greenish-yellow color to begin with.
• The shrivel: With the right umbilical cord care, the leftover piece will dry up, turn black, and fall off.

And how long does it take for the umbilical cord to fall off? Generally, the umbilical cord falls off within about 15 days of your baby’s birth, but it can happen much sooner than this.

How do I know my newborn’s belly button is healing well?

After your little one’s umbilical cord gets clamped at the hospital, they’ll have a little stump on their belly button for about two weeks or so. It can look a little different from what you may have expected — greenish-yellow at first and then black as it dries and gets ready to fall off.

Signs things are healing nicely include:

• No pus or smelly discharge
• No swelling or redness around the stump
• Skin around the belly button staying a normal, healthy color

A little bit of dried blood or even some bleeding when the stump falls off is normal too. If bleeding doesn’t stop after about ten minutes, or if you notice other symptoms, that’s when to check in with your doctor.

How can I make the umbilical cord heal faster?

Luckily, newborn umbilical cord care is pretty simple. There are two small rules that you need to remember:

• Rule number 1: keep it clean. Easiest way to do this? A wet cloth. And water is all you need. There’s no need for soaps as they may irritate that sensitive baby skin. Follow the wet cloth with a dry one and pat down the area.
• Rule number 2: keep it dry. Nothing like a little air drying to keep things fresh. Whenever possible, let that newborn belly button free. Sticking to sponge baths can also help ensure that the area doesn’t get wet. This will reduce the amount of time needed for the stub to dry out.

Another tip? Use special newborn diapers with an umbilical cord cut-out or fold the diaper down so that the area can breathe.

How do you care for the belly button after the cord falls off?

After the umbilical cord falls off, stick to the rules for a few days: keep it clean and keep it dry.

Use a damp cloth to wipe off any bits and pieces that might be left behind, stick to sponge baths for the next few days, and air out the area when possible. After that, you can give your baby a more luxurious soak in the tub.

How common is an infected umbilical cord?

The medical term for an infected umbilical cord is omphalitis. It means that the umbilicus (the technical word for the belly button) or surrounding tissue has become infected. As this study explains, an infected umbilical cord should be taken very seriously. [1]

If left untreated, it can lead to infection elsewhere in the body and, in the worst cases, even cause death. But before you panic, mama, it’s important to know that infected umbilical cords are rare in places where birthing environments tend to be safe and sterile. In fact, as that same study tell us, there is an incidence of just 0.7% of umbilical cord infections in more economically developed countries. And even if your little one’s umbilical cord does get infected, they should be absolutely fine if you act quickly. [1]

How do you know if the umbilical cord is infected?

Some things are normal — like a little blood or discharge when the stump falls off. But contact your healthcare provider if you notice:

• Greenish-yellow pus or fluid
• A smelly discharge around the stump
• Red, swollen, or hot skin around the belly button
• A swollen abdomen
• Fever
• Your baby cries when the stump is touched, suggesting tenderness or pain

Trust your instincts here. If something feels off, it’s always OK to ask for help.

Is an infected umbilical cord an emergency?

Yes, you want to step in pretty quickly here, mama. Your little peanut’s umbilical cord has direct access to their bloodstream.

This means that, even if they get a mild infection in their umbilical cord, it can spread to other parts of their body. This can get quite serious. And unfortunately, it’s fatal in between 7% and 15% of cases. [1]

Be especially careful if your little one is a preemie since they won’t have a very strong immune system in their first few weeks in the world. Call your doctor straight away if you notice any of the warning signs.

How is an infected umbilical cord treated?

The first thing your doctor will likely do is run some tests to see what’s causing your baby’s infection. This info will help them to prescribe the right antibiotic to set your baby right. What happens next depends on how serious the infection is.

If you catch the infection early, your baby should be fine in a few weeks. It might take a little bit longer if they had to have surgery.

Treatment for a minor infection

A little bit of pus, but no redness, swelling, or obvious pain is usually a sign of a minor infection. Just because it’s minor at this stage, doesn’t mean you should delay, though, mama. These infections can get more serious the longer you leave them, so chat to your doctor as soon as you can. In the case of a minor infection, your doctor will probably prescribe an antibiotic ointment, which you’ll likely have to apply to the skin around the cord a few times a day.

Treatment for a serious infection

If your baby has several of the symptoms we mentioned above, they might have quite a serious infection. In these instances, they’ll likely be hospitalized so that they can be properly treated and cared for. While they’re in the hospital, they will probably be given intravenous antibiotics to fight the infection.

This treatment usually lasts up to 10 days, and they’ll have to be in the hospital the whole time. Sometimes, doctors will also drain the infection. And if some of the tissue around your baby’s belly button has died because of the infection, they might also need to operate to remove this tissue.

Keeping your baby’s belly button healthy

Umbilical cord care is a small but meaningful rite of passage into new mamahood — and you’re doing great. 💪

Infections can happen, but they’re rare, and most babies make a full recovery when issues are addressed quickly.

Keep the area clean and dry, keep an eye out for anything unusual, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned. And if you need reassurance or support along the way, your Peanut community is always there — because none of us have to figure this out alone. 💕