Never ever ever heard this before.

Seems weird right?

I just can't even see where it would become an issue. Maybe because sanitation isn't as good in the countries where the studies were done? I mean, we were told we could use a little rubbing alcohol or even just do nothing to the cord.

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Elle said ...
Seems weird right?

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I think the key point here is "third world and developing countries"  ie: places where hygiene standards are less than Western, and clean water might be hard to come by...

By washing the umbilical stump in an antibacterial solution (this particular one is the same used as a pre-surgery hand wash, and it is also in a mouth wash and wound wash) they are doing more or less what I do to my babies umbilical stumps with regular rubbing alcohol after each diaper change... killing bacterial that can cause infection.

The last sentence is the most important  "...we think that sufficient evidence has accrued to claim proof-of-principle that application of 4% chlorhexidine to the cord stump can prevent omphalitis and neonatal mortality in high-mortality settings."

Basically, places where this type of infection is not only prominent, but DEADLY to babies.

See I was confused when I was reading this. I thought they meant umbilical cord attached to placenta. Not the stump. That in fact makes more sense.

It was the "Two recent studies published in The Lancet indicate that cleansing of the umbilical cord during childbirth could substantially reduce the risk of infection and rate of mortality in babies in developing countries. "

"during childbirth" was definitely a poor wording choice.

yes Elle, it took me two times to "get" it... but I finally figured it out when they said "and for 14 days after birth" that they just meant regular stump washing...

Makes total sense now. So Owen's stump took 3 weeks to fall off and his ped said if it stayed on any longer it would have had to be removed. Anyone know why that is?

Sometimes it just does not "detach" correctly and they need to help it out a little...

It can cause gangrene and other nasties if left too long.

My little nephew had a piece of his stay behind and get infected...they call that a granuloma I think...anyway, he needed a silver nitrate treatment to get it to fall off.

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Elle said ...
Makes total sense now. So Owen's stump took 3 weeks to fall off and his ped said if it stayed on any longer it would have had to be removed. Anyone know why that is?

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