The CNM I got the references on cord care also sent me a little on how she
handles cord care with her clients.  I recieved permission from her to share
this with you:

Janette

The cord falls off by gangrene!  That's the way it works, so our job is to
not interfere too much with it.  Use soap and water once a day around the
cord, and dry it well.  Alcohol just holds off the gangrene and makes the
cord take longer to fall off.

After the cord falls off, the umbilicus may "leak" pink discharge for 2-3
wks, and this stuff is sticky and irritating to the skin.  Again, careful
cleaning with soap and water once a day, and just warm water on a cloth or a
Q Tip  in between times is fine. You really do have to dig in there and get
the crusty stuff off, because that is what is irritating.  If the skin gets
red around the belly button, you can put some vasaline or A& D Ointment to
protect the skin.  Signs of infected cord are MAJOR reddness, tenseness of
the skin, and fever.  This happens once in about 50,000 births.

V<>V<>V<>V<>V<>V<>V<>V
Jude Kurokawa, CNM, FNP
513 Dayton St.   Wolf Point, MT 59201  406-653-1608
Home and Hospital births on the Rez
The Coyote midwife sits by the hole and waits....
mailto:[log in to unmask]  HTTP://www.midrivers.com/~jkuro