A new study published in PLoS One explored the umbilical cord separation time, predictors and healing complications, from birth until the newborn becomes one month old.

This was a quantitative longitudinal, observational, analytical study that adopted stratified random sample – conducted in public health system hospitals in southern Spain and at newborns homes. The study recruited 106 neonates born after 35-42 weeks of gestation—between April 2016 and December 2017—whose umbilical cord was cured with water and soap and later dried; as well as newborns without umbilical canalization whose mothers had a low-risk pregnancy. The data collection procedure comprised two blocks – from birth to the time of separation of the umbilical cord and from cord separation to the first month of life of the newborn. Umbilical cord separation time was measured in minutes; socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were measured by means of questionnaires; and the external diameter of the umbilical cord was measured using an electronic stainless-steel caliper and trailing roller.

The results revealed that the mean umbilical separation time was 6.61 days. While the incidence of omphalitis was 3.7% and granuloma was 8.6%. Separation time predictors were wetting recurrence, birth weight, intrapartum antibiotics, birth season and Apgar < 9.

The findings supported the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations – dry umbilical cord care is a safe practice that soon detaches the umbilical cord, taking into account the factors studied that will vary the length of time until the umbilical cord is separated.

Source: PLoS One. 2020 Jan 10;15(1):e0227209. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227209.