HEALTH EDUCATION FOR TODAY: THE UMBILICAL CORD

TYPICAL VIEW OF CORD AND DEVELOPMENT

CARE OF THE UMBILICAL CORD

Definition

The umbilical cord A.K.A birth cord, naval string or funiculus umbilicalis is a conduit between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta.

The placenta is connected to the baby by the umbilical cord which attached to the baby through an opening in the baby’s abdomen.

Functions of the umbilical cord

·         The umbilical cord transports oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus from the mother.

·         It helps to remove waste products and de-oxygenated blood away from the fetus.

Structure of the umbilical cord

The umbilical cord contains two small arteries and one large vein, these blood vessels are surrounded by a gelatinous substance called Wharton’s jelly that helps to prevent friction between the blood vessels.

After a baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut close to the baby’s body (2-3cm away) in a painless procedure, leaving an umbilical stump. The colour changes from yellow to brown or black

Immediate care of the cord after delivery

Immediately after the baby is born, the baby is separated from the placenta through the umbilical cord i.e. the umbilical cord is clamped, cut and cleaned with methylated spirit.

A thick umbilical cord or a cord & excessive Wharton’s jelly should be re-ligatured if disposable plastic cord clamp is not used as this cord can shrink and ligatured become loose.

Subsequent care of the umbilical cord

Ø  A daily inspection is being carried out, hands should be washed before and after cleaning the cord because our hands can harbor micro organism which can be easily transferred to the baby through the cord.

Ø  Clean the cord starting from the base to the top, also clean the skin upward using the swab once, and continue the procedure until the stump cord is clean.

Ø  If plastic clamp is used, whip it clean with methylated spirit swab.

Ø  Repeat this cleaning at least 5 times daily.

The umbilical stump falls of within 7 – 10 days by a process called DRY GANGRENE, but varies in individual babies after which cleaning continues until the scar heals.

Ø  Do not use toothpaste to clean the cord, it causes more harm than good to the baby.

Ø  Let the cord fall off naturally, do not try to pull it off even if it is only hanging on by a thread.

Ø  Report any information, swelling, offensive odour or discharge.

Signs of complication from the cord

Ø  Foul smelling stump

Ø  Redness

Ø  Swelling

Ø  Tenderness of the skin around the cord

Ø  Yellow drainage from the cord

Ø  Poor feeding

Ø  Fever of 100.4

Ø  Poor muscle tone

Watch Out!

If the cord stump pulled off too soon, it could start bleeding, every time you wipe away a drop of blood another drop appears, if the cord continues to bleed, call your health care providers

Hope You Learnt Something New About Health Today.