Why Do Parents Keep The Umbilical Cord?
Why Do Parents Keep the Umbilical Cord?
The umbilical cord is the lifeline that connects a developing baby in the womb to their mother. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the baby and removes waste.
When a baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, physically separating them from their mother. Some parents choose to keep their baby’s dried umbilical cord stump as a memento of the special connection they shared during pregnancy.
There are a few reasons why parents may want to save this piece of their newborn’s early life.
Emotional and Sentimental Value
For many parents, the umbilical cord stump holds special emotional significance. It represents the nurturing bond between parent and child during pregnancy.
Keeping this small part of the cord allows parents to cherish the memory of feeling their baby grow and thrive while still inside the womb.
The umbilical cord stump also serves as a tangible reminder of the transition into parenthood. The moments after a baby’s delivery are incredibly meaningful.
Saving the dried cord stump allows parents to reminisce upon the awe, joy, and excitement they felt at this major life event.
For some, preserving this small piece of tissue forever memorializes their baby’s first moments earth side.
Cultural and Religious Reasons
Saving umbilical cord stumps can also have origins in certain cultural or religious traditions. In some Latino cultures, for example, it is believed that saving the stump can protect babies from illness.
The stump may be kept in a special box or pouch and preserved alongside other important mementos from the child’s infancy.
In various other cultures around the world, burial of the umbilical cord is an important rite of passage for welcoming a new baby into a community. Keeping the stump allows families to have a physical reminder of their commitment to raising the child within their cultural heritage. These traditions emphasize the sacredness of new life.
Stem Cell Preservation
Some parents opt to store their baby’s umbilical cord blood and tissue because it contains a rich supply of potentially lifesaving stem cells.
Private cord blood banks process and freeze the blood for future use. The stem cells it contains have amazing regenerative abilities that can be used as a treatment for some diseases.
Preserving cord blood does usually come at a cost because specialized storage under extreme cold is necessary to keep the cells viable.
However, many parents view banking their baby’s stem cells as a worthwhile investment in their long-term wellbeing should they face health issues later in life where a stem cell treatment may help.
Thawed cord blood stem cells can be used in regenerative therapies for blood cancers, immune disorders, and metabolic diseases. Clinical applications of these powerful cells continue to expand as further research unfolds.
Finding comfort and meaning in an extraordinary remnant
For those who choose to keep their baby’s dried umbilical cord stump, it often holds deep symbolic significance about new life, powerful bonds, and hopes for the future. This small piece of tissue connects parents to poignant memories about their baby’s arrival into the family.
Though the stump itself has no clinical usefulness after it dries and falls off, its ability to evoke meaning and emotion never fades.
For many parents, preserving this extraordinary remnant is a way to cherish an incredibly special period welcoming their child into the world.
When Does the Cord Fall Off?
If parents wish to save their baby’s umbilical cord stump, it helps to understand when it naturally dries up and detaches from the abdomen.
On average, the stump falls off within the first one to three weeks after birth, often between 10-15 days of age. However, the timing can vary.
Factors That Influence Cord Detachment
How long the umbilical stump remains attached before falling off depends on several factors:
Baby’s Delivery Method
Babies born vaginally tend to shed their cord stumps sooner. The increased exposure to maternal bacteria speeds up the drying process so the cord detaches more quickly. C-section babies have slightly delayed cord separation since their delivery in the operating room involves more sterile technique rather than exposure to bacteria. However, with proper newborn care, cord detachment timing is usually similar regardless of delivery method.
Cord Care Approaches
There are differences in opinion about the ideal way to care for the umbilical cord stump before its natural detachment. Most care providers advise gently cleaning around the base of the stump with water and patting it dry. However, some parents choose to take a hands-off approach, avoiding cleaning the area altogether to prevent infection. How the cord stump is handled can impact drying time.
Genetics and Ethnicity
Genetics appear to play a role in how quickly the cord detaches. On average, Black and Hispanic babies keep the stump longer (closer to 3 weeks) compared to Caucasian babies. Underlying skin properties may cause these subtle differences across ethnicities. No clear explanations account for this variance, but it falls within the range of normal.
Newborn Health Status
If a baby is ill or has certain health conditions like infection or jaundice, it can delay when the umbilical cord falls off. Growth-restricted babies born prematurely also tend to have longer cord separation times. However, under normal circumstances the cord detachment timeline is fairly consistent across healthy full-term newborns.
Saving the Umbilical Cord Stump
For parents wishing to keep their baby’s umbilical cord stump, the main goal is allowing the tissue to completely dry out before it detaches. Moisture is what promotes decomposition, so thorough drying is key to preservation.
Here are some tips for saving the umbilical cord stump:
- Leave cord alone without excess handling apart from gentle cleansing. Frequent contact can introduce bacteria and alter detachment timeline.
- Allow cord stump to air dry fully at each diaper change before re-covering with clean cloth.
- Consider placing a few layers of clean gauze around the base to lightly absorb moisture rather than direct contact with diaper. Change gauze 2-3 times daily.
- Do not submerge cord stump underwater. Protect it from dampness during baby’s first baths.
- Avoid pulling or tugging on the stump before it naturally falls off.
- Once detached, place the dried stump in a clean breathable container like a small box or jar.
- Add a dessicant pack or baking soda to absorb any residual moisture.
- For long-term preservation, store in an airtight container to protect from dust, sunlight, and other elements.
Following these simple suggestions helps the umbilical cord stump dry out completely so parents can successfully save this special keepsake. With proper storage techniques, it can remain intact for years to come.
How to Display the Saved Umbilical Cord Stump
Parents have a few options for how to meaningfully display their baby’s preserved umbilical cord stump. Some popular methods include:
Shadow Box Frame
Picture frames designed specifically for keepsakes like dried flowers, coins, or fabric swatches allow the umbilical cord stump to be showcased while protecting it behind glass. This helps prevent dust buildup and degradation over time. Small engraved plates can be added with the baby’s name and birth details.
Specialty Jewelry
Some companies offer jewelry like pendants or beads made to encase preserved umbilical cord pieces. Tiny sections of the dried tissue can be inset within resin, glass, or stone. These beautiful wearable keepsakes let mothers keep the cord stump forever close to their heart.
Grouping with Other Milestone Mementos
Parents can combine the umbilical cord stump with other treasured items from early parenthood like their baby’s hospital bracelet, a clipping of newborn hair, or small foot and hand prints. Placing these together in a shadow box, album, or scrapbook creatively documents cherished memories.
Finding a method to proudly put the umbilical cord stump on display holds special significance for parents as they reminisce about the earliest moments bonding with their child.
When to Seek Medical Care Related to Cord Issues
While it is common for babies to have minor issues with cord stump care, certain signs warrant medical evaluation:
- Persistent bleeding from the umbilical cord base especially if bright red in color. Mild drainage is common but heavy ongoing bleeding could reflect an abnormal blood vessel connection needing treatment.
- Strong foul odor or yellow/green discharge indicating infection rather than normal slight dried blood remnants on the stump.
- Swelling, pain, or redness at skin site which can suggest deeper inflammation or abscess.
- No drying or detachment by 3-4 weeks of age as drying timeline is often delayed if access blood vessels failed to properly close off.
Seeking prompt medical care for any of the above symptoms can prevent complications and help ensure appropriate healing of the umbilical area after cord separation.
Keeping an enduring reminder of the inseparable bond
For many families, preserving the umbilical cord stump transforms a small piece of tissue into a treasured lifelong memento. This humble remnant beautifully embodies the intimate connection between parent and child. Saving the dried cord allows parents to tangibly revisit the earliest moments of wonder, awe, and delight in welcoming their baby into the world. As a enduring keepsake, it celebrates the unbreakable bond formed even before birth.