Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

Umbilical cord hanging by a thread of skin...?

My son is exactly 3 weeks old tomorrow and his umbilical cord is almost completely off. Except for the fact that it's hanging on by 2 little "thready" pieces of skin. Very thin strands of skin, but enough that it won't just come off when you slightly pull back the dead umbilical top. I've been using rubbing alcohol on it every day (1-3 times a day). I'm wondering, should I just pull it off or just keep cleaning it until those last little strands come loose?

Public Comments

1. NO. Let nature do it's thing.
2. It could cause an infection if you pull it off. I would give it another week. If it doesn't come off call your pediatrician. It's better to be safe than sorry.
3. Don't mess with it. It'll come off by itself.
4. Do not pull it off, allow it fall off by itself. My son was 3 weeks and 1 day when his came off. It was hanging by 2 threads also and it came off by that evening. The only problem is sometimes there will be a bad odor even right after cleaning. Just clean as much as you feel necessary and wait for it to come off by itself
5. I know you have that urge to pull it off... but don't! Those little things do not heal well... just let time nature take it's course and it will fall.
6. new research shows not to use rubbing alcohal. I was told this when my second child was born 2 1/2 mos. ago. just leave it alone it should fall off in a day or two.
7. Don't pull it off..Just keep it clean it will come off by it self..If for some reason it doesn't come off I would say about a week bring him to the doctors..Don't pull it off though you do not want to cause infection..I am sure you will find it in his diaper in a day or 2.. Good luck
8. Don't use any rubbing alchohol, you're keeping it moist by doing so. Leave it dry for a day and it should fall off. Don't pull it off though, you have to let it dry so that it closes off whatever raw skin is still under there. After it comes off, use neosporin or any other antibiotic ointment. I haven't heard of people using alchohol on the cords anymore. My son's fell off 3 days after we left the hospital, so like 6-7 days max. :D I saved the cord, now it looks like a little pork rind. But yeah, let it dry, no more cleaning! You can do all that after.
9. let it fall off on its own!! it could bleed if you pull it off and get infected!