Note when bathing a newborn baby who has not yet shed the umbilical cord

This article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Bathing a newborn is always a challenge for mothers, especially for babies who have not yet shed their umbilical cord. Bathing the baby does not affect the rate of shedding of the umbilicus as well as the rate of skin healing after the umbilical cord falls off.

Usually, when newborns are born, they don't need a bath right away. Midwives often use soft and warm cotton towels to wipe off the amniotic fluid and blood on the baby's body. The baby will then be brought to the mother's side for skin-to-skin practice or wrapped in a towel and placed close to the mother.
If you observe the baby more closely, the mother will notice that the newborn baby's skin is covered with a thin layer of wax with the effect of helping to maintain the baby's body temperature while still in amniotic fluid, preventing infection during birth. .
At this time, the baby's body temperature has not been stabilized, so she has to wait until the next day to take her to the bath. In all maternity hospitals, the first bathing of the newborn is always done on the first day after birth.

Of course, this depends on the decision of the parents. If you're still not ready to give your baby a bath, a 1-2 day delay shouldn't be a big deal. Especially when left for a long time, the layer can become a habitat for many types of bacteria.

Here are the steps to take when bathing a newborn who has not yet shed the umbilical cord at home
Prepare before bathing your baby Warm water basin: You should check the temperature of the bath water to make sure it is not too hot or cold.
Bath chair or bath net (if available) Bath sponge: Choose one specifically for babies.
Massage oil Shower gel: Choose a mild and non-irritating shower gel.
Wipes: Usually, you should choose large, soft towels that do not cause skin irritation for children.
Choose clean, airy clothes.
Baby massage Before bathing, the massage will help the baby feel warm, comfortable and not panic when the mother drops it into the water.
Bathing the baby The way to bathe a newborn who has not yet shed the umbilical cord is no different from how to bathe other normal newborns.
First, the mother will use a clean towel or medical cotton dipped in warm water to wipe the baby's eyes, face and ears.
Next, gently wash the baby's hair, be careful not to get water in the baby's ears.
Gently splash the baby with water and gently use the bath sponge to rub the foam all over the baby's body. Pay attention to places like neck, armpits, wrists, groin, ankles. Normally, newborn babies are usually very round and mothers need to clean the upper folds, because sweat and dirt can easily cause the baby to get diaper rash.
Gently sprinkle clean water to wash all the shower gel on the baby's body.
Cover baby's body with a towel and dry it
Apply diaper rash cream and put on baby diaper
Dressing Mother can skip step 1 and proceed directly to step 2 if there is not enough time and baby is not afraid when taking a shower.

Basically, the steps to bathe a newborn baby who have not shed the umbilical cord are no different from bathing the baby who has shed the umbilical cord, but you still need to note the following points to take care of the baby's umbilical cord properly :

You can let the whole baby soak in a basin of water, but when wiping, you must use a clean cotton ball to dry the water clinging to the baby's navel. Do not bathe for more than 10 minutes because babies easily lose body temperature. Apply an antiseptic solution with a clean cotton swab or medical cotton, note that the antiseptic solution here is 70-degree alcohol or betadine solution to be used as directed by the doctor. After bathing, the navel should be completely dry, check it carefully before dressing the baby Everyone should understand that bathing the baby does not affect the rate of shedding of the umbilicus as well as the rate of skin healing. when the umbilical cord falls off. When there is any abnormality such as wet umbilicus, bad smell, bleeding or pus... you should take your baby to the hospital for examination. Note do not apply any lotion or folk medicine. any time of oral transmission to the baby's umbilical cord without the consent of the doctor. The navel is a very sensitive part of a baby, so mothers need to be very careful when bathing a newborn baby who has not yet shed the umbilical cord, to avoid the risk of umbilical cord infection and some other diseases. Hopefully the information in the above article will help parents have more knowledge to take care of their baby.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Master. Dr. Vu Quoc Anh has nearly 10 years of experience as a resident doctor and treating doctor at Hue Central Hospital and Danang Children's Hospital. Currently, he is a Pediatrician - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.