stinky cord stump

[NaturalMindedMomma]

ummmmm it stinks, bad. Hanging on by a small piece. She doesnt have a fever. should I call the DR

[Mamabeakley]

If it'll make you feel better, you could call the dr. They will probably put something on it to dry it and disinfect it. You could do the same w/ a)rubbing alcohol, b)hydrogen peroxide, or c)iodine. There are herbal possibilities, too (don't know what they are, though.) Also, breastmilk has strong anti-bacterial properties so what I've been doing is rubbing gently w/rubbing alcohol on a q-tip and then squirting w/a little bm to coat.

[Koalamom]

My midwife told me to expect the stink, and that means it is going to fall off very soon. And she left me with some goldenseal powder to put on it if I noticed anything questionable. I haven't used it since all is good. Good to have around though.

[mbravebird]

DDC crashing to say that they've done studies that show that alcohol actually makes the stump take longer to fall off. It disturbs the bacteria that are doing the work of separating the cord.

Breastmilk, herbs like witchhazel or goldenseal, will let the bacteria do their work better.

[Heather Marie]

I would leave it be. The smell is normal. I will sometimes swab it lightly with a damp q-tip just to clean it up a bit, but otherwise I don't mess with it.

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

DDC crashing to say that they've done studies that show that alcohol actually makes the stump take longer to fall off. It disturbs the bacteria that are doing the work of separating the cord.

Breastmilk, herbs like witchhazel or goldenseal, will let the bacteria do their work better.

That must be why my midwife said it is better to do nothing to the stump if I can.

[Jilian]

It is ok if it stinks, it is rotting flesh so a stink is normal as long as there is no gooey discharge coming out. DS2's stunk really bad right before it was going to fall off and our pedi was out of town so the on-call pedi had us put alcohol on it and it only prolonged the falling off process. Finally I stopped using the alcohol and it fell off the next day.

[Mamatoabunch]

Mine have all stunk, some even got reddish. Just do not get it wet in any way, no alcohol, peroxide. It will get resolve itself.

[Coconut Chronicles]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

DDC crashing to say that they've done studies that show that alcohol actually makes the stump take longer to fall off. It disturbs the bacteria that are doing the work of separating the cord.

Breastmilk, herbs like witchhazel or goldenseal, will let the bacteria do their work better.

:

Hmm good to know! We'll skip the alcohol and just use Goldenseal

[Talula Fairie]

Yeah, see the doctor. It's probably not serious but it only takes like two seconds for them to put some drying/antibacterial stuff on it. I had to do that for #1. Once they put the stuff on it it stopped stinking and came off all the way within 24 hours.

p.s. I had been swabbing it several times daily with alcohol to no avail. so there probably is something to that.

[Mamatoabunch]

Yes on the alcohol. When my twins were born we were told to put alcohol, we did. It too forever for theirs to fall off. W/ my third midwife said peroxide, took forever too. W/ the rest we did nothing at all, much less time, still a stink though w/ some.

[Michigan Mama]

If there is an infection, the main things we look for are redness, warmth, swelling, drainage... and odor. But if odor is the only issue, I would probably follow some of the above recommendations and wait it out.

If I saw any of the other issues, I would get it checked if it were me. But I always tend to err on the side of being safe.

[Lacrymosa]

same thing happened to asia. our pediatrition put some silver stuff in there and it was better within a week. now she has a cute little belly button

i'd call your dr.