A guide to caring for your newborn
Umbilical cord stump
The umbilical cord stump dries out and usually falls off within one to three weeks of birth. Let it fall off on its own; do not try to remove it yourself. Keep the stump dry and exposed to air as much as possible by folding the front of your baby’s diaper below the stump. You may notice some occasional spotting of blood or clear discharge. This is normal. Call your provider if you notice redness of the skin around the cord, tenderness or oozing or if your baby develops a fever. These could be signs of infection.