5 Steps to Care for Newborn

Umbilical Cord The umbilical cord in newborns must be cared for in the right way. Proper care of the cut umbilical cord can prevent the baby from irritation and life-threatening infections. In the following, MAKUKU will discuss the benefits and steps for caring for the umbilical cord for newborns.

The umbilical cord is a connective tissue that connects the placenta and the fetus during pregnancy. The umbilical cord is generally about 50 cm long. The umbilical cord plays an important role in the survival of the baby and affects the growth and development of the baby in the womb. Because it serves to deliver nutrients and oxygen from the placenta to the bloodstream. As well as providing antibodies to the baby before delivery. The antibodies produced can protect the baby in the first three months of life.

When does a baby's umbilical cord fall off?

The umbilical cord is then cut when the baby is born and the umbilical cord is no longer needed. But there is a remnant of the umbilical cord that is still attached about 2-3 cm to the stomach. Usually the umbilical cord will come off and heal completely in about 7-10 days. And, on day 5-15, the umbilical cord will dry and fall off by itself. Although the remaining pieces of the umbilical cord can fall off or fade by itself, as long as it has not been separated, parents must take good care of it.

The umbilical cord that has not faded is usually still wet and damp. So that it becomes the most vulnerable area to trigger the growth of germs that can cause infection. The characteristics of an infected umbilical cord are pus, red, swollen umbilical cord, unpleasant odor, fever and fussy baby. Infection in the umbilical cord should not be ignored, because it must be recognized that the umbilical cord has direct access to the bloodstream. So a mild infection can quickly become a serious infection.      

Steps for proper care of the umbilical cord

The umbilical cord before and after discharge must be cared for until it is completely healed and dry. It is important for parents to keep it clean and ensure the area is always dry. Here are the steps for caring for the umbilical cord that parents can do at home:

Keeping the umbilical cord

clean Clean the rest of the umbilical cord and the surrounding skin area once a day using a cotton swab dipped in warm water. Avoid cleaning the rest of the umbilical cord with alcohol, soap, antiseptic liquid, oil, or powder because it will slow down the healing process. Mommy and daddy can clean the umbilical cord area until it is completely healed and dry.

Take a bath by means of a cloth

Before the umbilical cord is detached, you should not be exposed to water first. To clean the baby's body, mommy and daddy can bathe the little one by wiping it. Use a small cloth and warm water and then wipe it all over your little one's body.

Don't pull the umbilical cord if it hasn't come off yourself

Mommy must be patient, waiting for the baby's umbilical cord to come off. Avoid pulling the baby's umbilical cord because the dry and healed umbilical cord will fall off on its own. Untimely plucking the umbilical cord can cause bleeding.

Keeping umbilicaldry

Try to keep the umbilical cord open and not covered with dry gauze or exposed to the diaper belt. The diaper waistband usually covers the baby's umbilical cord. In fact, if the waistband hits the umbilical cord, it can be exposed to the baby's urine and feces which can cause infection.

Mommy and daddy don't have to worry about that, because the MAKUKU SAP Diapers Slim size NB has a U Shape design. Where the waistband in the middle forms a hollow under the umbilical cord. So that the waistband will not hit the umbilical cord and reduce friction with the baby's umbilical cord.

Another advantage of MAKUKU SAP Diapers Slim is that it uses a SAP or Super Absorbent Polymer core structure. So, this MAKUKU SAP Diapers Slim diaper is anti-clot. When the diaper absorbs urine, the liquid can be absorbed evenly, not gathering at one point so it doesn't burden and burden your little one.

First U-Shape Belly Button Award in Indonesia

The belly button u-shape feature found in all MAKUKU SAP Diapers variants was awarded as the "First diaper in Indonesia with Special Newborn U-shape Belly Button Feature" from TRAS N CO at the Indonesia Maternity, Baby & Kids Expo (IMBEX 2023) on December 1-3, 2023 at the Jakarta Convention Center Senayan, Jakarta.

In addition to the special NB size for newborns, MAKUKU SAP Diapers Slim also has other sizes such as S, M, L, XL and XXL with adhesive type (tape) and pants (pants).MAKUKU SAP Diapers Slim at offline stores Transmart, Diamond, Food Hall, Market City, Raja Susu, AEON and 26 MAKUKU Family Stores throughout Java. And Moms can also make purchases online at Shopee, Lazada, Tokopedia, BliBli and JD.id MAKUKU Official Store. (Aq/MKK)