When the umbilical cord is cut, there is a stump that turns black and dries out until it falls off, which we know as the fall of the navel or the umbilical cord. But when do babies’ navels usually fall out?
The fall of the umbilical cord
Most advances in the development of babies have an estimated date, that is, a range of days, weeks or months in which something can happen, without necessarily being a fixed or established date for everyone .
In the case of the umbilical cord, something similar happens, since it usually detaches from the newborn’s womb between the second and third week of life and after this fall, it takes between three and five more days for the wound to heal.
There is no equal timeframe for all babies, although the cesarean delivery cord usually falls off later. In some children it can be shed on the fifth day while in others on the twentieth day of life. Both situations are absolutely normal.
In some cases, the umbilical cord can become detached until the fourth week of life or near the first month of the baby. If we see that that date is approaching and it has not come off, we can consult the pediatrician to assess the situation and verify if there is no abnormality in the baby’s navel.
Regardless of the date on which the umbilical cord falls, it should never be stretched to finish detaching it , not even if the thread to which it has been reduced is very fine, as it could cause bleeding in the navel.
What happens when the umbilical cord is detached?
It is possible that by the time the belly button finally comes off naturally, it will bleed a little, but in that case the bleeding stops on its own immediately.
The healing of the wound that remains in place, usually occurs between three and five days after the fall , and while this happens, it is necessary to continue performing the cures to achieve a perfect drying.
During this process, it is normal that we observe small traces of dry and coagulated blood in the internal folds , and we must continue to carry out the cures because the risk of infection persists until the navel has completely healed.
The process of care and cleaning after the umbilical cord has fallen is important in all babies, but especially in the so-called “amniotic navels” , in which the skin does not protrude but remains sunken, because that makes them less ventilated and it is also more difficult to assess its status.
Let us remember that regarding the fall of the umbilical cord, rather than worrying or rushing because it falls, we must pay attention to possible warning signs and carry out its cure, cleaning and drying correctly.
Photo | iStock
In Babies and more | I have always wanted to know: what is hidden behind the navel, Newborn care: the umbilical cord, The umbilical hernia in the baby: everything you need to know
