Cord question and more...?

Question

Hello, I've just recently given birth to a baby boy to whom my partner and I have named Shae. He was born on the 22nd of January 2007.

My predicament is his cord is starting to smell... and I've cleaned it properly and dried it proper;y but nothing. any ideas?

and i also need some advice on how to keep him in his bed. He seems to rather enjoy laying with me. Every time i put him in crib he whines etc and wants to get out.

Also any ideas on how to get rid of hiccups (he seems to get them quite a lot)

thank you for your help...

Lady Trinity... I'm not cold hearted I'm just doing what I was told to do by the midwives. He's with me 24/7 anyway, but I just wanted to know for when i do eventually put him down what i can do.
Sorry i didn't state that.
I'm a first time mother so I haven't a clue if ppl are telling me porkies or not so that's why i'm asking.

Answer 1

Congratulations on the new little guy!

If there isn't any sort of oozing around the base of the cord and nothing looks inflamed, just keep putting the rubbing alcohol on it and don't worry. It will be gone in a week anyway.

Don't worry about the hiccups either unless they seem to be bothering him.

As for the crib, maybe he'd be more comfortable in a bassinet or smaller cradle at the moment. He's awfully little and he's used to being in a confined space. It might also help to swaddle him snuggly when you put him down.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Hiccups are totally normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Don't worry so much about getting rid of them, more then likely they'll go away on their own before anything you could possibly give him for them would work anyway. Lots of people use gripe water, but it has sodium bicarbonate in it so give it to him sparingly if you do at all.

Cord smelling is classic sign of infection, talk to your doc next time your in and she'll let you know if the severity is something to worry about or not.

As for the baby bed, you've slept with him up to this point and expects that from here on out. He's probibly going through some separation anxiety. Swaddle him to help him feel secure and lay him down on your shirt, he'll be able to smell you and feel safe.

Congratulations on your little baby :)

Answer 3

My daughter did not have that problem with the cord. It fell off on it's own after 2 weeks. If you're sure that's what it is, definitely ask your pediatrician about it immediately. He's only 6 days old and it shouldnt' smell. I'd be concerned about infection. Just to be safe, tell the pediatrician in the morning.

Hiccups are normal and harmless. Just give him a bottle or breastfeed him when he gets the hiccups as that may help.

There is nothing you can do at this age to get a NEWBORN to sleep in his crib! You can give the baby nothing but lots of love at this age and they can't be held "too much" at this age. My suggestion to you is to sort of shift your thinking about it and love having him with you. You could try putting him in his crib while he's asleep and maybe that will help. GOod luck!

Answer 4

ok, the cord smelling could mean that he has an infection, so it wouldn't hurt to call up the doctor just to make sure. Try not to let him get too used to lying with you, that can cause sleeping problems down the road. It's ok for him to cry a little bit, it won't hurt him. And sometimes just letting them cry for a little bit will help them go to sleep. And for the hiccups my husband and I used gripe water. It is wonderful. It will make them go away instantly and it also helps with upset stomachs. It's all natural and you can find it at any health food store. Good luck and Congrats on the new baby.

Answer 5

About the cord, make sure you are putting the alcohol on it at every diaper change and not getting it wet....if it continues to smell call the dr. to make sure there is no infection. If he was only born about a week ago and he doesn't like to stay in the crib it's probably because he is so used to being all smushed up inside you so try wrapping him tightly in a receiveing blanket! Hiccops are because the babies digestive system is gettin used to the outside world, they will stop once he gets a little older!

Answer 6

As just about everyone has said, the cord probably needs to be looked at by a pediatrician, because there may be infection. My pediatrician, actually told me not to clean it, because the cord would fall off quicker, if I didn't, but if I did to use only alcohol. This is the purpose of sponge baths, to keep the cord dry.

Oh, and about keeping the baby in his own bed, I had the very same problem with my son, and no, it isn't safe to sleep with your child in your bed. This is a proven fact due to the baby deaths caused by the parent rolling ontop of the baby. I would just wait until his was good and asleep and gently place him in his bassinette, which was next to my bed. It also helped me to keep in wrapped in a swaddler, or snugly in a receiving blanket. And if he does cry, it's actually good for the baby's lungs, it helps to strengthen them.

Answer 7

First congrats!

Second, the baby is used to being with you all the time. And my daughter did the same thing..she wanted to lay on me. She wouldn't sleep in her bassinet at all. I mean all you can really do is make sure they are good and asleep before hand.

About the cord you need to take baby to the dr ASAP because if it smells it probably is infected. You never clean it with water and the nurses should have told you not to clean it unless absolutely neccasary. The stuff they put on it at the hospital is good enough. But you should use alcohol on a pad if you are going too. I would take baby to the dr tomorrow and get that checked out.

To get rid of hiccups, give him something to drink.

Answer 8

I am confused. You said that the baby was born on January 22 and then you say he does not want to stay "in his own bed"? That is wild! This little baby has been connected to you for 9 months and all of a sudden he is supposed to be in his own bed? That is one of the most heartless things I have ever heard of. I am trying to understand that you could not have meant it the way that it sounded but you were pretty clear.
Dear, that baby has no business being anywhere except in your arms or lying inches away from you. He deserves to be with you and OF COURSE he is going to fuss and cry if you try to seperate him from his mother. Is there some reason that you do not want him with you?
Are your breastfeeding him? If for some crazy reason you are not, it is not too late to remedy that. Just pick him up and start nursing him.....you can start to lactate. I sincerely hope that someone in the hospital explained to you how essential it was that he receive your colostrum, if you did not at least do that then he has not gotten any of the immunities that you could have given him. Which is even more reason to nurse the poor little thing.
Lord, I feel sorry for that poor little baby. I would say that the fact that his umbilical cord has an odor and that he has the hiccups is the least of his worries.
Find a friend or your mother or someone who knows something about breastfeeding to help you out....you are way off on the wrong foot. It is not too late to fix it but you are doing damage each day that you go on with this attitude.
His need to be held and comforted is just as real as any physical need that he has. You are neglecting him by trying to force him to be on his own like that. I raised 5 babies and not one of them ever slept on their own until they were at least 4 or 5 months old. He needs to be near you for at least the first month or so. Can you imagine how scared he must be?
Please try to find it in your heart to be a little kinder to him.
Lady Trinity

Answer 9

hiccups seem to be a very common thing in newborns i just gave birth to my daughter on thee 24th and she is constantly getting the hiccups as for sleeping in their own beds my husband and i haven't figured out how to get our little one to sleep in her bed at night she sleep on her own in the hospital but after coming home she cries hen but in her own bed if you figure that one out let me know

Answer 10

hey Lady Trinity if you were a pregnancy councelor then you should know that babies are not suppose to sleep with their mother's because it is dangerous duh! and maybe she wants the baby to get used to sleep in his own bed or sometihng. you'r whacked out of your mind!
ANyways i think you should just give the doc a little ring and for the hiccups it hink he'll be fine:)