Question
The newborn has been 16 days old, and the umbilical cord condition was initially good with no abnormalities. However, today, it was found that there is bleeding from the umbilical cord opening, which has occurred four times. Even after daily alcohol cleaning, there has been no improvement. How should one respond?
Answer
Baby umbilical cord bleeding is usually caused by the closure of blood vessels at the umbilical cord stump after ligation, incision, and detachment. If the baby cries frequently and the abdominal pressure continues to rise, these vessels may not be completely closed, leading to small amounts of bleeding on clothing. At this point, one should only wipe the umbilical cord bloodstains with 75% ethanol (medical alcohol), followed by covering with a sterile gauze and wrapping the umbilical cord with a bandage. It usually heals within a few days without the need for hemostatic drugs. However, it is important to maintain local hygiene to prevent bacterial infection.