Umbilical Stump Still on at 4 Weeks

Both of my twins' stumps came off too early. A friend of mine is a pediatrician and she came over with the silver nitrate (it looks like a little match). She put the SN on the navel and the stumps immediately dried up and I could put the babies in water as much as I wanted to then. It does look like ashes on the skins but it eventually washes clean after a few days.

My sons stayed on for about a month as well. When we went in for his appts the dr. was much more aggressive with it than we were at home. She did apply something (maybe heat via an instrument she had). It fell off quickly after that. One thing that might help is using alcohol from the bottle instead of the swabs. She did this in the pedi office and we started it at home. It gets more on the stump. Good luck and congrats on your new baby.

I would call the pedi and just ask...won't hurt to ask.

Are you submergin her in her bath? I know they say that you can now, but I wonder if it would take longer to fall off if you don't keep it dry.

Call you Dr. Good luck and CONGRATS on your baby girl!

When that happened with my son the pedi applyed so silver nitrate I think it was called. They had to do it on 2 different visits then it came off. I would call and ask pedi what to do. It is called an umbilical granuloma I think.

Hi J.,

Wow, she's four weeks old ALREADY?!?! How time flies! Congratulations!!

I think the stump still being on at four weeks is okay. Don't be aggressive with it though, just keep applying the alcohol swabs. I think my sons came off around the four week mark. If she's four weeks, she should have a one month check-up soon, right? I would wait and ask the pedi then about it or give them a call if it's really bothering you. Now that I think about it, my sons came off right after his one month check-up.

-Char

Since she is only 4 weeks old I really wouldnt worry about it, but if it goes any longer then that then I would contact your ped.