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Umbilical Cord Care Directory
A piece of the umbilical cord remains after it is cut at birth. It will fall off on its own, but a parent's job is to keep the surrounding area clean during this time and after it falls off. After cleaning, be sure to dry the area. Special precautions should be taken to the umbilical area clean and dry. Some fluid may appear where the cord is after the stump falls off, but the skin should heal within two weeks. Swelling, redness, fluid, or pus are signs of an infection and warrant a call to your health care provider. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about how to care for the umbilical cord, whether you should consider cord blood banking, and much more.
Medical Reference
Cord Blood Banking: Deciding About Public or Private Donations
Should you bank your infant's cord blood? Should you use a public or private cord blood bank? WebMD gives you information that may help you decide.
Fetal Blood Sampling (FBS)
Fetal blood sampling helps check for birth defects. It can also show anemia and infections.
What to Know About Your Baby’s Umbilical Cord
After your baby’s umbilical cord is cut, a small stump will be left on his belly. How do you know it’s healing normally? WebMD explains what you need to know about your infant’s umbilical cord.
Features
Can the Umbilical Cord Save Lives?
Once tossed in the trash, umbilical cords are now thought to help kids with a host of ailments. So why aren't more of them being saved?
Cord Blood Banking: Your Questions Answered
Find answers to common questions parents have about banking their newborn's umbilical cord blood.
Assessing Your Need for Umbilical Cord Blood
Should you store your newborn's umbilical cord blood? Take stock of your family's medical history, then assess your child's ethnic background and other factors.
Diapering a Newborn: Dealing With Diaper Rash
Is your baby bothered by diaper rash? There are lots of things you can do to prevent and treat this problem.