Chapter 2 – The Umbilical Stump

Once it has completed its task of transporting blood between the placenta and the baby, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut after birth. What remains is a small piece—the umbilical stump, about 2–3 centimeters long, attached to the baby’s belly button and held in place by a plastic clamp.

This stump consists of three blood vessels (two arteries and one vein), wrapped in a thin membrane of connective tissue. It may initially appear greenish-yellow, brown, or gray-black, but darkens and dries over time (1). The umbilical cord’s function is to exchange blood between the mother and fetus during pregnancy. It connects the baby’s bloodstream to the placenta, which provides oxygen and nutrients essential for growth and development. Typically, the stump dries up (mummifies) and falls off naturally within 7–14 days, leaving behind the “umbilical scar”, or belly button. Cutting or losing the stump does not hurt the baby, because it contains no nerve endings. A small amount of dried blood or light bleeding at the time of detachment is normal and not a cause for concern.

The stump should not be pulled or handled. It should be left exposed to air, with the diaper folded down to avoid covering it, protecting it from contact with urine or stool.

If the stump does not detach within three weeks, or if the area becomes red, swollen, or oozes pus, consult your pediatrician (2).

However, recent studies show that the dry cord care method—leaving it exposed to air and cleaning only if soiled—is just as safe, and the stump tends to fall off slightly earlier (3).

In some hospitals, stump disinfection is still done frequently due to the presence of more aggressive bacteria in medical environments. However, keeping the baby in rooming-in with the mother and encouraging skin-to-skin contact has been shown to promote colonization by maternal bacteria and lower the risk of infection (4). Naturally, anyone caring for the newborn should always ensure their hands are clean and well-washed.