Pegasus Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 This happened years ago but I just dreamed about it again last night and am curious how often this happens. When my youngest DD was a newborn, her cord dried up and fell off like normal but the little stump (belly-button-to-be) was staying wet looking and not healing. At a regular ped appt, the doctor applied something to her stump. The next morning, when I went to change DD's diaper, I noticed large blotches on her belly where the skin appeared darker. I went to run my finger across the blotches and the skin started sloughing off! I was horrified and suddenly afraid of touching her any more. Of course I took her straight back to the pediatrician where we were seen by a different doctor. She was totally dismissive of my concern, said it happened all the time, and explained that when she got a drop of it on her fingers, the skin would peel off. She followed up by saying that it looked like the stump may need another "treatment." I got the feeling that she was being dismissive as a way to cover that the first doctor made some kind of mistake (too much of the stuff, maybe too strong). So, to settle my curiosity for something now 12 years in the past (my, does time fly!), anyone else have a similar experience? Any idea what they may have put on the stump? Pegasus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 My son, now almost 18 had an umbilical stump that wouldn't heal. It was cauterized a few times....and it stunk so bad, that one time I literally passed out....whacked my head and all, because it was so gross:tongue_smilie:. I had him in the doctors over and over, and it did heal, and he has a cute belly button, But I will NEVER get over that trauma. Eeeeeewwwww!!:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Yep, my first one. I didn't know that I shouldn't get it wet, and gave her a full bath before it healed. Oops. :( But no long term harm was done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Yes, my oldest, his would not close. The dr put some silver something or rather on a q-tip into the opening and that seemed to do the trick. THe stump had fallen off, but the belly button itself was still open and oozing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Probably put silver nitrate on it, which is also sometimes used for g-tube sites that don't heal properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 A couple of my kids have needed silver nitrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicagoshannon Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Both of my kids needed this. Their cords fell off very quickly, like day 4 and the skin wasn't closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 DD3's umbilical cord stump was treated with silver nitrate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Might have been silver nitrate...that stuff turns the skin brown/black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Two of mine got the silver nitrate. No surrounding skin issues, but we've got some deep belly buttons over here, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Yep, my first had his done with silver nitrate at 9 weeks. I think part of the problem was that DH trimmed down the dried out part, so it didn't catch on things and get pulled. The next two we left alone and they fell off around a week or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 My son, now almost 18 had an umbilical stump that wouldn't heal. It was cauterized a few times....and it stunk so bad, that one time I literally passed out....whacked my head and all, because it was so gross:tongue_smilie:. I had him in the doctors over and over, and it did heal, and he has a cute belly button, But I will NEVER get over that trauma. Eeeeeewwwww!!:tongue_smilie: LOL! One of my boys had a stinky, problematic umbilical stump. The dr applied silver nitrate to it to help it dry up. I remember gagging while nursing him, because his belly button smelled so bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyco Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Yup, my 12 yo ds had silver nitrate applied to his stump b/c it wasn't falling off or healing. He's got a cute belly button now but I was sure convinced something was way wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 My two younger ones didn't want to let go of their cord stumps. They both had theirs for over 4 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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