UMBILICAL CORD PROBLEMS

Symptoms | When to call | Homecare Advice

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR UMBILICAL CORD PROBLEMS

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• Bleeding won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure applied twice
• Spot of lost blood > 2 inches (5 cm)
• Newborn (< 1 month old) starts to look or act sick in any way
• Red streak runs from the navel
• Red area spreads beyond the navel
• Fever > 100.4 F (38.0 C) rectally

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If

• You think your child needs to be seen
• Small recurrent bleeding continues > 3 days
• Pimples or , blisters or sores in area
• Lots of drainage from navel (urine, mucus, pus, etc.)

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns
• After 3 days of treatment, navel is not dry and clean
• Nubbin of pink tissue inside the navel
• Cord attached > 6 weeks

Parent Care at Home If

• Normal cord or navel, questions about
• Superficial infection of cord or navel and you don’t think your child needs to be seen
• Normal umbilical bleeding and you don’t think your child needs to be seen
• Normal early separation of the cord before 10 days
• Normal delayed separation of the cord beyond 2 weeks

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Pediatric SelfCareNavigator. Copyright © 2000-2004 Barton D. Schmitt, M.D. FAAP

Reviewed 8/2004

Revised 8/2004

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