Stinky Stump

[JamesMama]

Aldria's umblical cord smells horribly, no redness, no discharge, no swelling...just smells something fierce.

I'll prolly call the dr tomorrow...any advice??

[Isaac'sMa]

Isaac had that too. We went to the pediatrician and they used a silver solution on it. It cleared right up and promptly fell off. I think goldenseal powder might be a good remedy too but don't quote me on that. HTH.

ETA the stuff they used stains cloth, so beware stains on diapers, clothes etc if you go that route...

[JamesMama]

thanks.

Guess we'll be off to the dr tomorrow. It reaks, DH says it smells like a dead mouse.

[Isaac'sMa]

Dead mouse? I do remember it was a pretty wretched smell. Ds got called "stinky stump" by dh's family for a while after that!

[scheelimama]

Not there yet, but I remember both of my girls stumps smelling pretty rotten after a few days. It is rotting flesh. Even their belly buttons smelled pretty foul for a few days after the stump fell off. But the mw's were never concerned about it as long as there was no sign of infection (puss, overly red, or swollen).

[JamesMama]

Ick, so my sweet baby is gonna stink for a few more days? Yuck.

I kept smelling foul something today, I thought it was James! I forced him in the tub, scrubbed his teeth, changed his diaper 5 million times and still the smell! All along it was my sweet, precious newborn.

[GinaRae]

The MWs used goldenseal liquid and I am cringing - waiting to see how many dipes and things it's stained. It just seems to work so well. I might ask them to squirt it again as it is starting to stink!!

[ThatFatBaby]

We use goldenseal powder and it works great. Stump fell off at 4 days and no smell. The staining is minimal and it's on the inside of the clothing and diapers and you only need to do it 2x a day so it's not like an entire wardrobe is covered with stains. Usually just the onesie has a spot on it.

[fihz]

My MW told ud to wash it with a solution of Ecchinacea and a bit of water. Did miracles! And it doesn't staincloths

[DeChRi]

nak

We are in stinky stump land too. Not at all infected looking, not yucky, just stinky! She is 8 days old today....when do they fall off? I don't remember from the first time around.

[mittendrin]

My little guy had that, no redness or anything else either. So I wasn't too concerned. Initially I had treated his stump a few times daily with homeopathic powder from Weleda, got it in Germany and it's esp for cord care. Great stuff!
When I noticed the smell I used rubbing alcohol to clean out the gunk and the next day the smell was gone.
With all my babies the cord fell off between 10 and 12 days pp.

[monocyte]

Yup, we had the stinky stump smell here. And then we had a dipe rub it the wrong way, and it was bloody. Poor thing.

Dr looked at it, tried to clean it, and then it fell off the next day. Now it smells so much better.

[GinaRae]

That goldenseal is AMAZING! I heard from a couple women who mentioned day 4 stumps coming off and had used Goldenseal liquid or powder. My kids' all fell at 7-10 days. But Lach's fell off today at day 3.

Mind you, I accidentally pulled on it during a diaper change because the clamp was still attached (because it had been too wet for the MW to take it off) so it pulled off, but no bleeding. I assume it would have come on day 4 if I hadn't forced it.

I assume it's because of the goldenseal and leaving his belly open to air a lot in the day time to dry it out.

[chrysalis]

this is really wonderfully informative but i couldn't read it all cuz if i read anymore i just might ralph. :Puke

ahhh the joys of pregnancy...

no really, i'm glad to have read what i did read cuz hopefully it'll help me should sheamas have any stink.

[pixiesmommy]

Us too! Peri is stinky. Cleaned it with alcohol : today as the goldenseal powder doesn't seem to get in the "cracks" as well.