Bumps & Babies

Dr. Virginia Apgar, the woman behind the APGAR score - an assessment that a midwife or MD performs on newborns,  helped pioneer a new way of providing maternal care. She focused attention on newborn mortality and was able to help obstetricians learn to look for signs of distress immediately after birth. 

Taking care of a newborn means more than changing diapers and round-the-clock feedings. Parents and caregivers must also be aware of the umbilical stump. Like any other tissue that is healing, the skin surrounding your baby’s belly button will dry and then eventually fall off within one to two weeks. However, to avoid infection it is important to keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry.

Here’s how to clean and care for the umbilical stump.

How many times have you heard or said the following statement?

“Waking up frequently during pregnancy is your body’s way of preparing for the baby’s arrival.”