Re: How to treat umbilical cord?

We use alcohol twice a shift...nothing else.

We do not use anything if there is a UAC or UVC....because one of the physicians found evidence that repeated exposure to alcohol and break down the catheter and make it more likely to snap during withdrawal...and well know how serious that is.

Re: How to treat umbilical cord?

Our policy is nothing if lines are in place. If no lines then we are suppose to trim and treat with triple dye then alcohol. I understand that research now points to letting it dry naturally but what should be done if you find a cord that has been "neglected". For example I had a 8 day old baby in an isolette whose cord was still as long as his arm! (cords are left long in delivery in case the baby needs lines; this baby didn't need lines but his cord was never trimmed). It was nice and dry, but the clamp was causing redness on his chest. I removed the clamp, trimmed the cord a little bit with scissors and placed him supine. (turns out he was happier supine anyway). Was it ok to trim the cord? There was no risk of bleeding because it was so old. Also what should be done to cords that have been soaked in urine? Sometimes I find a cord that was dry has become moist again because it has been allowed to "marinate" in a urine filled diaper. Is alcohol appropriate to dry it back out?

Re: How to treat umbilical cord?

Does anyone have a link to the AWHONN statement? I went to their site but the only thing I could find was CNEs that you had to pay for to read.

Re: How to treat umbilical cord?

We do nothing to the cords. Using alcohol actually dries the cord and turns it hard. That can make it take longer to fall off.

Re: How to treat umbilical cord?

I wish we'd quit painting ours. We are using triple dye, because one of the pediatricians complained about how they weren't falling off quickly enough after d/c. I still tell parents what the EB recommendation is.

Re: How to treat umbilical cord?

The skin care guidelines from AWHONN and NANN recommend that nothing be added to the umbilical cord. Their research has found that the cord actually falls off faster if nothing is applied to the cord. They also recommend tub baths from birth as tub baths are less noxious to the newborn than sponge bathing. The research has shown that it does not delay the cord falling off or an increase in infection of the cord.

What we have all done in the past is based on tradition and not research. Time to step into the present and practice evidence-based nursing.