core care

Where should I start cleaning the cord after it was cut, from the base or from the tip of the cord?Should I use alcohol or Normal saline? Is it ok to milk the cord before cutting it?thanks

[Yao Sun, MD, PhD]

If your baby is born in the hospital, the obstetrician or midwife will clamp the umbilical cord and show you where to cut between the clamps.  There is no need to "milk" the cord before cutting it.

Umbilical cord care depends upon the institution in which your baby is born.  Many hospitals teach "dry" cord care, where the umbilical cord is only cleaned with warm water and soap if it is soiled by stool or urine.  A few hospitals teach parents how to clean the cord with alcohol: you should follow the instructions you learn in the hospital.