Has Anyone Ever Used Herbal Cord Care?

[WinterPrego]

I am getting together a list of items my husband and I will need for our first UC, but am wondering about a couple things that don't seem "neccesary" but maybe helpful in the end?  Have any of you ever used an herbal cord care for the baby? Did you think it was worth the money? Would you recommend it to others? Also, what about hemorrhage tinctures? What is/was your favorite/most effective hemorrhage tincture?  Also, anyone used Placenta Out? Thanks everyone....we just want to get things right the first time!

[courtenay_e]

I will also move this thread to UC, where you may get more responses!

[MittensKittens]

I used idione on the cord stump and then breast milk, after my milk came in. I exposed the cord stump to as much air as possible to encourage healing as well. Since my son's birth, I have read studies that say putting nothing at all on the cord stump allows it to heal most quickly. That, combined with airing, is what I will do for my next baby.

[WinterPrego]

Thanks Olivia! I've read quite a bit on your blog today, and agree that airing seems to be the best way to go.

[MsBlack]

Agreed--in my experience, the cords that dry fastest and fall off soonest, with least amount of issues, are those allowed to air dry and no one puts anything at all on them.

[Cutie Patootie]

Originally Posted by MsBlack 

Agreed--in my experience, the cords that dry fastest and fall off soonest, with least amount of issues, are those allowed to air dry and no one puts anything at all on them.

Yes, this.  The whole thing with the cord is it literally rots off.  If you use anything on it that hinders the bacteria that causes the rotting it does not fall off as quickly or as cleanly. 

[Earth Momma]

you could also consider a lotus birth :)

[Rainystar66]

I'm the minority but I have always used straight dried golden seal on the cord, and lots of air.   

I've never used the hemorrhage tincture or even had it on hand, in the event of hemorrhage compressing a piece of raw placenta between your teeth will signal to the uterus to clamp down (this is the reason many animals eat their placentas following birth), although I have never needed to do this.

[WinterPrego]

Earth Mama - Though a lotus birth sounds intriguing, I'm not so sure I'm the type to do it! lol the only thing I'd object to is the convenience of carrying a placenta around for a couple days. If this were anything other than my first baby, I would probably consider it, I just don't know how easy that would be adjusting to being a new mother while carrying it around!  :)

Rainystar66 - I have read some on eating the placenta, and it seems like a good fall back plan.  :) Not to mention free!

[Crispie]

The practice I apprentice with gives dried goldenseal powder to all their mama's. Never had any cord issues. I'd say 99% are fallen off by our 7 day check at latest. The key is not letting the very base get all gummy. They kind of sink down in there after a day or two and have potential to get gummy. We advise to tip it to the side gently and get powder just around the base. If the base is drying well, the rest will follow. HTH! Best wishes for a beautiful birth and happy belly button! 

[kawa kamuri]

yes yes yes to the goldenseal

[prothyraia]

1st child, no cord care, no problems.

2nd child, goldenseal, took longer and seemed a little irritated. 

[mpvelaz]

Used goldenseal root powder with my second and it seemed to dry up and fall off faster than my first did with nothing on it.

[jshannyn519]

A friend of mine used the herbal cord care powder and she highly recommended it to me. She said that the cord dried up and fell off in 6 days or less with no issues at all. I'll probably be buying it so that I have it on hand if I decide to use it.

[mwherbs]

We recommend using nothing cords usually fall off in less than a week, usually 4 days . Cords rot off so using antibacterial stuff can interfere with this process. Of course keep the cord are out of the diaper also helps.

You are more likely to need something for bleeding than something special for cord care.

[BirthTender]

In my practice, I recommend lots of air circulation to the cord. If folks want to use goldenseal, that's fine & I give them resources to locate/purchase it. If folks seem to want to wash the cord area with something, I recommed soap and water. The key is air circulation and keeping diapers folded down and onesies 'not snapped down over the umbilicus until cord falls off and area has totally healed-made a belly button'

[truejoy]

I dont use anything of my baby's stumps either...they dry and fall off in a day or two that way.   Just wash with water and air dry.

I have read that goldenseeal is a poisen if baby happens to get it in their mouth.  

[LadyJennifer]

I used rubbing alcohol on my first and it took 10 days. My second, I used a natural witch hazel and it fell off in 6 days.