soon to be a mom

[damarisward]

Its my First child and I'm 39 weeks. After my baby is born can dey Take baths right away or I have to wait till her umbelical cord thingy falls off ???

[Factorymomma]

Aw sorenr! I freaked out when my son's cord fell off too lol! I thought I hurt him because there was the tiniest bit of skin still attached.  I went to change him and, pop!, there it came off!
Now I'm happy I don't have any animals though!

[sorenr]

I was never given much advice on the cord other than to keep it clean, we were shown in hospital how to bathe the babies and other than making sure it is dried off gently and properly, I dont remember any specific instructions. As others have said, it's not especially good for small children to be bathed more than once or twice a week, I must admit my first I bathed daily and we were constantly seeing rashes but with my second I only bathed her when necessary (cos I just didnt have time!!!) and she never broke out in any rashes. This may well simply be because they have different types of skin, but overusing products might have been to blame. Your midwife will guide you after delivery on how to care for the cord (hopefully you wont do what I did when it fell off...freak out and throw the nappy across the room only for the cat to run away with the cord and eat it!!)

[mrssandefur]

Yeah I bought a bottle of cheap alcohol and a bag of cotton balls and soaked the cotton ball in the alcohol and stretched the belly button (to pull the umbilical stub back) and squeezed it in there. It works a lot better and faster then the alcohol swabs they give you. And I did it with every diaper changing. As far as bathing them I just took a warm wash cloth with a.little soap and wiped them clean and rinsed the rag and got the.soap off. Dried em and lotioned them.down :)

[lilpollywog]

They aren't supposed to soak until it falls off.  They recommend using alcohol on the cord 2-3 times a day but I used it with each and every diaper change during the day and it came off pretty fast.  You're just trying to keep it dry so it comes off and any unnecessary moisture just adds to the time it takes.

[MamaBear0612]

You do sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off, then you can put them in the baby tub and immerse them. But like the others said, they'll explain it to you at the hospital. It can take up to a month for the cord to fall off, but they don't need baths as much at first because they don't get overly dirty.

[godspromise432]

I dont have any children either but I have enough nieces and nephews... U can wash your child just be careful as to the water getting on it I think. Dont emerse it in the water but you have to clean it but the Dr's and nurses will explain all this to you before you take your lil bundle home.... Good luck!!

[Lexyd]

They will usually tell you at the hospital but i just gave my girls a sponge bath and watched out for their belly button until it fell out and then I gave them regular baths after it did fall out. But hospital told me to do that and then only like 3 or 4 baths a week so their skin doesn't dry out plus they don't get dirty right now anyways lol. Good luck!

[Jennyjoelogan]

I didnt bath mine until it fell off which was 3-4days after he was born. I would just get a big underpad and will wash him with a washcloth warm water and baby shampoo.