Cord Stump

[AppleCrisp]

Its been more than 2 weeks and my son still has the cord stump. Is this too long?! The stupid thing doesn't even look like its trying to fall off. I've been using peroxide all around it every day but nothing is happening. I'm getting tired of sponging off the poor kid - he's a totally messy nurser, and I really can't wait to give him a real bath.

[Metasequoia]

My (still nameless boy is 10 days old today & still has his stump. I was told to leave it alone, putting nothing on it. He had his 1 wk check-up yesterday (9 days) & his stump stunk like mildew! Yuck! Our doc dabbed just below the stump with silver nitrate, not on his skin. She said that should help to dry it up & to make sure we keep it open to air - folding back diaper.

Tell me about the messy nurser - I squirt milk all over the poor guy & he constantly pees all over himself when I change him.

[mattemma04]

I have read of parents putting goldenseal powder on the area.Never tried it.We just waited.I know my ds' fell off around 2 weeks,because I took him to the ped when we saw a we bit of blood. I was concerned about infection,but the ped said it wasn't an issue. Just be patient,and try different techniques to encourage healing/drying.

[AppleCrisp]

Originally Posted by Metasequoia

My (still nameless boy is 10 days old today & still has his stump. I was told to leave it alone, putting nothing on it. He had his 1 wk check-up yesterday (9 days) & his stump stunk like mildew! Yuck! Our doc dabbed just below the stump with silver nitrate, not on his skin. She said that should help to dry it up & to make sure we keep it open to air - folding back diaper.

Tell me about the messy nurser - I squirt milk all over the poor guy & he constantly pees all over himself when I change him.

Hee hee - it took us several days to settle on a name. Better wait and get it right than hurry! This poor kid, he actually peed up out of his diaper on his own face the other day. It was amazing!! I hope the stump falls off soon...it doesn't stink, its just icky, and doesn't seem to be drying out at the very base.

[radicalmama]

I used goldenseal on my last two kids stumps and was amazed...three days, tops...and gone was the stump. Just sprinkle it on.

[Mariposa]

i say try the goldenseal or maybe rubbing alcohol instead of the peroxide.

we never recommended putting anything on it when i was working as a nurse (they did a study and just leaving it alone actually made it fall off faster and applying alcohol like we used to didn't decrease infections). we told parents just to keep it clean and dry. if it is still moist at the base, you might want to check with the pediatrician if it is oozing or anything.

have you tried blowing it dry with a hairdryer on cool? maybe that would help it to dry at the base. are his diapers covering it at all? can you keep him in a t-shirt and diaper and let it get air as much as possible?

hope it falls off soon! just watch for any signs of infection, redness around the cord or drainage/pus. it can take 2-3 weeks for the cord stump to fall off sometimes.

[RedOakMomma]

Don't let yourself stress about the cord stump...unless it's stinky, it's usually fine.

With my twin sons, it took almost two weeks to fall off. This time, it fell off after 5 days, but then bled off and on for 10 days after that. No biggie. Nurses said not to put anything on it, but once it fell off and was bleeding slightly (enough to leave spots on the inside of sleepers, but not enough to soak through), I'd swab it out with alcohol every two or three days. Now, of course, it's fine.

Every stump story is different! Don't sweat it!

[AppleCrisp]

It finally FELL OFF! Yes!! We couldn't find it anywhere....totally grossed out, thinking it was either in bed with us, or the animals found it. Later that day I discovered it stuck fast to the inside of his onesie - EW!

But we had a fun time with our first bath...oh how precious and cute...and what an adorable little belly button!

[lilsishomemade]

My little guy will be two weeks old on Wednesday and his hasn't fallen off yet...PLUS, they cut it long, so it's a PITA right now. I know how you feel about the bath, though, I hate doing sponge baths and am looking forward to the first real bath!!

[amyrobynne]

We're on day 15 and the stupid stump is still hanging on. The crusty outside seems to have let go, but the middle is still there and it's gooey. Ugh.

[nubianamy]

This is so interesting... my mw suggested I do herbal baths (full immersion except eyes & nose) with Ivy from day one. Her cord stump dropped off on day 3.

[momto3g3b]

Joshua is 26 days old and still has his stump hanging by a thread. All of my kids hung on to their cords for a long time, though, so we pretty much expected Joshua to not lose his early.

No one has been concerned about him still having it, and since he can't have a real bath until his surgical incision is completely healed, we would be waiting on a bath even if his stump *was* gone.