Care of the baby's umbilical cord
The natural process of devitalization or progressive drying of the umbilical cord or navel of the baby must be aseptic, without added infections. At birth, the umbilical cord that connects the placenta to the abdomen of the newborn baby is cut and a clamp is placed. The navel has a whitish gelatinous appearance, at first. As it dries, it will adopt another color and appearance.
How should the umbilical cord be cured?
The umbilical cord contains blood vessels that served in the intrauterine space to join the placenta with the fetus during pregnancy. The umbilical cord or navel of the baby should be washed daily with soap and water as part of the daily bath until it falls. Until then, it is very important to keep it clean and dry.
At present, it is accepted that the use of aseptic measures in the care of the umbilical cord such as the previous washing of hands with soap and water, the placement of a clean gauze to cover it and the change of diaper after each urination or deposition are practices and even superior to the use of antiseptics.
Ideas about baby navel care
1. Talcum powder or girdles should not be used to cure the baby's navel.If an antiseptic is used, 4% chlorhexidine or 70% alcohol may be used, but not povidone iodine. It can be cured one to three times a day, soaking the umbilical area perfectly, especially in the part closest to the skin. It is not necessary to have apprehension when curing the navel, but on the contrary, it is necessary to soak the stump well with the antiseptic indicated by the pediatrician.
2. The umbilicus is cured with chlorhexidine or alcohol, but not with povidone iodine. The navel should always be dry and out of the diaper to avoid getting wet with the child's urine. Consult the pediatrician if there are signs of local infection, such as redness or discharge around the navel base.
Why should not povidone iodine be used to cure the navel?
The iodine or in this case the povidone iodine (Betadine *) applied on the skin of the newborn is absorbed quickly and produces an iodine overload that can cause a blockage in the thyroid gland, which will synthesize less thyroid hormones (thyroxine). If less thyroxine is produced, the pituitary gland will respond with an increase in the synthesis of a thyroid stimulating hormone (thyrotropin) or TSH, trying to force the thyroid to increase the production of thyroxine. What is the ultimate consequence? There will be elevated TSH levels in the blood.
One of the tests for the early detection of metabolic disorders (popularly known as "heel test of the newborn") is based on the determination of TSH, which, if elevated, can indicate hypothyroidism, in this case, you will find a TSH elevation without hypothyroidism, so it will be a false hypothyroid, the test will have to be repeated and it will increase both the anxiety of the parents and the health expenditure.
Isidro Vitoria Miñana. Pediatrician of the Nutrition and Metabolopathies Unit of the La Fe Hospital in Valencia. Author of the bookBaby care. Truths, myths and mistakes, by Ed. Medici 2014.
BlogPediatrics and child nutrition. Resources for parents
Recommended by:
- AEPAP Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics
- SEDCA Spanish Society of Dietetics and Food Sciences
- Family Lighthouses. Page for parents of the San Joan de Deu Hospital. Barcelona.
