Your newborn baby's belly button

Everyone has a belly button. But since it never really does much other than just sit in the middle of the stomach or get a piercing, it's often forgotten. However a belly button is one of the most important things a baby can have up till they are born.

The belly button is formed by the mother's placenta connecting to the baby's stomach via the umbilical cord, allowing nutrients, blood and waste to be transferred as needed between the two. 

When baby is born, the umbilical cord is no longer needed since baby can live and breathe on his own. So after birth, the umbilical cord is cut, leaving a small stump on baby's belly.

Since the umbilical cord was a living piece of blood and tissue, cutting it won't immediately form a belly button - the area has to heal over time to become the little skin colored mound we all know.

This is a quick guide to what to expect from your baby's belly button during the first few weeks and months after they are born.

The baby's cord may be allowed to pulsate for a few minutes, as it feeds last minute nutrients to the baby. Then the cord will have a clip placed on it [see photo] and will be cut. Sometimes the doctor may cut it, or someone elected by the mother - such as the father or labour partner.

The clip is normally removed in the first few days after birth or when you leave the hospital.

During the first week after birth, the umbilical cord will slowly dry up - turning into a black or brown, dry stump. By 7-10 days this stump should slowly start to loosen, then come off altogether. The resulting belly button will resemble an open sore - but shouldn't look red or infected.

The open belly button should slowly close up over the first 2-4 weeks and be completely healed by 2 months at the latest. In rare cases, some belly buttons may take longer to close up. 

Bathing - Some people prefer to give baby a sponge bath until the stump has come off the belly button, however this is completely up to you. I personally gave my baby bath's in a bathtub from two days after she was born. To clean it simply pat around it with a damp cloth.

Touching - Try to avoid touching the belly button until it is healed up. Once the skin has fused, it's fine to touch gently and wash in any folds that it has.

Removing - Don't remove the stump from the baby's navel. It should slowly come off on its own and if you remove it forcibly, chances are you may cause the skin to bleed or rupture.

Nappy time - Fold down the top half of the front of the nappy to avoid irritating the healing belly button.

Clothing - try to avoid covering the stump too much. Fresh air will help it heal quicker.

• A black or brown stump for the first week.
• An open belly button for several weeks.
• Any shape or size or belly button once it heals. It can range from two folds anywhere to a small hole, inny or outy... it really depends on how the skin heals.
• Redness. Over the first few months the belly button can occasionally become red, due to heat, dryness or too much rubbing in the bath. As long as it returns to its normal colour within 24-48 hours there isn't a problem.

• Any kind of discharge. If the belly button is bleeding or emitting pus of any type, it's best to see a doctor.