Avoid putting local herbs on baby's umbilical cords-experts

HEALTH

Brenda Chemutai a first time mother is today nursing a sick child with an infection in the umbilical cord after putting many herbs in an attempt to cure it very fast.

After giving birth, Chemutai was told by  friends around her home that if she wanted her child's umbilical code to heal and close very fast, she had to apply certain herbs.

"I tried to ignore their advice but later I yielded to their pressure and when I put herbs, my child's umbilical cord started developing pus.

Later my child started crying restlessly and I noticed blood in her cord. I panicked and rushed to the hospital. Today I am nursing her and I regret doing what I did, "she explains.

"However, being a first time mother, I knew nothing, but I vow not to do or disobey the doctors' orders,"says Chemutai.

Experts note that its common practice for mothers especially those in rural areas to put herbs and all sorts of funny things on umbilical cords of new born babies something that puts them at risk of getting infections.

Sabrina Kitaka, a senior Paediatrician Mulago hospital notes that a new born umbilical cord, stump typically falls off naturally with in about two weeks. She notes that mothers should treat it gently and desist from using herbs as these endanger the life of the baby.

Swab the stump with cloth line after every diaper change and do not forget to expose the stump to air to help dry out the base.

She notes that it's important that you keep the front of the baby's diaper folded down to avoid covering the stump.

She adds that while there is no harm getting the stump wet especially while bathing the baby, sponge baths can help keep the stump dry. She cautions parents not to pull off the stump as it's supposed to fall off by its self.

Dr Steven Mukasa from St Vincent Hospital Nsambya notes that parents ought to know that in pregnancy, the umbilical cord transports nutrients from mother to child and at birth, its cut and a stump is left which falls off after two weeks.

Dr Mukasa notes that although it's rare to have infections, mothers who use, funny things like cow dung among others risk infecting their baby's cords.

He notes that first time mothers should seek advice from midwives on how to care for their baby's umbilical cord and in case the baby's cord appears red, produces blood, pus  one should rush the baby to hospital for medical attention.