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Umbilical cord care: Relax, it's simple!
A newborn's umbilical cord stump isn't pretty. But fear not. Simply keep it clean and dry until it falls off.
By Mayo Clinic staffYou can describe most bellybuttons as little nubs or crinkly indentations — but not at first. Your baby's bellybutton starts out as an umbilical cord stump about an inch long. It's not pretty, but it's amazing all the same. Until the stump dries out and falls off, keep it clean and dry.
Why your baby has a stump
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord supplies nutrients and oxygen to your developing baby. After birth the umbilical cord is no longer needed, so it's clamped and snipped. This leaves behind a short stump. The umbilical cord doesn't contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers, so your baby won't feel anything during this rite of passage.
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