Where There Is No Doctor 2011 263
Care of the Cut Cord
Keep the cord stump clean and
dry. Always wash your hands before
touching the cord stump.
If the cord becomes dirty or
has a lot of dried blood on it, clean
it gently with medical alcohol or
strong drinking alcohol, or with
gentian violet. Do not put anything
else on the cord—dirt and dung
are especially dangerous. They can
cause tetanus and kill the baby,
see pages 182 to 184.
If the baby is wearing diapers,
keep the diaper folded below
the cord.
If the cord or the area around the
cord gets red, drains pus, or smells bad,
see page 272.
The cord stump usually falls off 5 to 7 days after birth. There may be a few
drops of blood or smooth mucus when the cord falls off. This is normal. But if there is
a lot of blood or any pus, get medical help.
Cleaning the Newborn Baby
With a warm, soft, damp cloth, gently clean away any blood or fluid.
It is better not to bathe the baby until after the cord drops off. Then bathe him
daily in warm water, using a mild soap.
Put the Newborn Baby to the Breast at Once
Place the baby at its mother’s breast as soon as the baby is born. If the baby
breastfeeds, this will help to make the afterbirth come out sooner and to prevent or
control heavy bleeding.