Infected Umbilical Stump-Help

[MamatoPeach]

Winston's cord stump is infected. Its half off and very smelly. We had a pedi check up today and he wrote a script for Keflex. I really dont want to give my baby anything. But I am afraid of it infecting his whole belly.

Any ideas, experiences, advice?

[MamaAcorn]

Squirt breastmilk on it several times a day?

That's my answer to anything though - only because I've seen it work on ear infections, eye infections, cuts and scrapes, runny noses, etc.

[blessedwithboys]

breast milk or colloidal silver. eo's will burn newborn skin, but silver wont

[MamatoPeach]

OK, I have done breast milk a couple of times.

I am so stressed out that if I don't give the antibiotics it will infect his belly. ?? I will def. hold on the antibiotics till tomorrow and see how it looks.

[Jackies Ladybug]

ddc crashing,
infection of the umbilical cord can get very serious very fast. if there is ever a time for antibiotics it would be now.
i am all about naturopathy and breastmilk, but we are talking dead baby in 48 hours if it goes septic. dont feel bad if you use the antibiotics, sometimes western medicine has a place.

[pjs]

If you like/trust your ped, I'd take the script. I wouldn't want to mess with an infected cord, but I'd rely on my doc's recommended course of treatment (though our doc is very holistic/natural minded)

[MamatoPeach]

Really, it still looks ok. Its not red, swollen, or oozing anything. Just smelly.

I have been doing breastmilk every couple hours, but it still smells.

I don't want to risk his health though. It just feels so weird to give drugs to a baby that is healthy, it doesnt look infected. Just smells

Thanks so much for the advice and keep it coming, I feel so indecisive about this one.

(i am a ped RN, and i have taken care of a baby with an infected cord that spread across her belly, it wen t very fast and they were lucky she made it through. So I do know that this is very risky, why im so stressed about it.)

[KringyBingy]

My sons umbilical cord was SUPER stinky and I brought him in for it. It was simply rotting flesh and I am overly sensitive to smells for at least 6 months after having a baby. I already have a super nose, but the umbilical smell almost puts me over the edge. My dd was a bit stinky, but since I had the experience with my ds, I just waited it out. I did wipe my sons off with alcohol to try to dry it out, it doesn't necessarily promote healing, but it made me feel better.

I would go with your gut, if their is no inflammation it maybe just stinky.
Kristy

[blessed2bmommy]

DDC crashing. My Dd's umbilical cord got infected and I freaked. My birth assistant told me to wash it 2-3x a day with soap and water. We then used a blow dryer (on a very low setting as not to burn baby) to dry it out.

I think drying it with the blow dryer is what did the trick. It dried it out so much it finally fell off.

Good luck, mama!

[MamatoPeach]

OK, The stump is off. I have been using breastmilk like crazy. It looks ok underneath. A little red but doesn't look any different than my daughters did. He is acting like a healthy hungry boy. I will keep an eye on it and maybe call my pedi today.

Thanks for the help ladies!