Belly button site

[ultramichelle]

:confused: My little mans belly button stump feel off on Monday and it looks very weepy. I saw the dr yesterday and they put on an ointment the dry it up and said no need to alcohol it any longer and I could bath him now. Well it is still so weepy and doesn't seem any dryer. Is this normal? I will hold off bathing him completely since it looks so wet. What does it ususlly look like after stump falls off. He has no fever and no red streaks and it doesn't smell, but looks white and yellowish and keeps soiling his clothing.
Thanks

[maple]

Hi there,
Isn't it the GROSSEST! My little guys BB was weepy too. I just made sure I cleaned it up during diaper changes (with a damp baby face cloth) just so it didn't get dry and gunky (is that a word?)
I just gently wiped around the area. It was fine after a few days.

How are you adjusting to life with the new born? if you want I can tell you some of the things that worked for me regarding sleeping/feeding etc. I have 2 kids and have learned a few things along the way.

I know people are full of advice, and sometimes we get overwhelmed with it- it is here if you want it!

maple

[ultramichelle]

Maple thanks fopr the reply, It is so wet how long will it be like that? I do apprieciate any advise. I don't feel so overwhelmed these last 3 days. I am actually feeling alot better. Those blues are gone. thank goodness.

[maple]

Hi Michelle.

Ok- let's see what "tricks" worked for me....

1. this is my #1 ultimate "worked for me" trick. I put the kids in a sleep sack from the minute they didn't stay in the swaddling anymore. I am not sure if you are familiar with these but they are like a sleeping bag for babies. My kids LOVED them. I didn't buy expensive ones (I bought mine from Sears). I have seem them in speciality baby stores too. You can get them in different materials- for the winter or summer. My kids liked the feeling of being wrapped up and I didn't have to worry about them kicking off their swaddle in the night a waking up. I swear by these things. I have given them as shower gift, I love them so much. My friend's son wore his so much when the zipper broke they ran around the city looking for a replacement!! They were in a panic!

2. When DD or DS had gas pains I used OVOL, not gripe water. I found that the OVOL worked a lot better and faster than gripe water. I live in Canada- I bought it at WalMart. I am sure you would be able to find it in the states.

3. Shushing and Side to side or deep knee bends - DD liked the deep knee bends and the shushing when she was crying. DS liked the sid eto side and the shushing. The shushing is supposed to mimic the sound they hear in the womb. You feel like a bit of a dummy repeating "sh-sh, sh-sh" over and over but eventually you get the right rhythm for the baby and they love it. Plus, as an added bonus the deep knee bends are good for your quads!!!

4. a swing. This is one of the things kids hate or love. Both of my kids loved the swing. I just let them sleep in it whenever they wanted to. For DS I even bought a portable swing took it with me whenver we went to anyone's house!!

5. Formula at night. This was probably my #2 thing that worked for me. For DD I started her on formula for her last night feeding at about 5 weeks. I was really reluctant to try it but I was dying to sleep at night again! DD took about 4 oz at 11 pm and withing a few weeks was sleeping through the night. They say that the formula takes longer to digest and therefore the baby stays fuller, longer. DD got breastfed the other feedings during the day. I was sore at night because I was lazy and didn't pump! With DS, I started formula at night at 2 weeks. It took him longer to sleep through the night - he was doing it at about 12 weeks. But still, that is pretty lucky!!!

I think that is all I can think of right now. You may know all of that stuff, but I thought I would pass along what worked for me. Some days it feels like you are tripping from one minute to the next. For me, I found that things started to fall into place at about 3 months. I felt better, the babies were more settled etc.

Well, good luck. Hope you get some sleep!
maple

[ultramichelle]

Okay I think I love most all those tips, I did formula with breast milk last nigh t and tonight just for one feeding.
Tonight I did call and go in to the Dr due to the belly buttonsite it started to be very red and pusulant very quickly. I was told not to dress him other than a diaper for 2-3 days, he had the silver nitrate put on it and they said to go to the ER tonight if the redness increases since babies can get infections so quickly it seems okay now so I will not worry. He is sleeping comfortably now.
I am such a first time mommy. He was at the Dr yesterday for his 2 week visit and again today.
OH YEAH I wrote his weight down wrong yesterday, he actually gained a ton he now weighs 8 lbs 9 oz. so he is above his birth weight. My little chuck is gaining more than 1 oz a day. This breastfeeding all the day long thing must be working.

[maple]

My son was a chunkey monkey too (I love that!)
At his 3 month he was 14 pounds and at his 6 month appointment he was 19 pounds, at 9 months he was a whopping 21 pounds!!!! To put that in perspective, my DD who is 3 weighs 32 pounds! He's a BIG boy! But soooooo cute!

Don't worry about calling the doctor whenever you feel you need too. That is not being a "first time mommy", trust me! We just don't know what is going on with those little ones so we go to the experts! I have called the Dr more with baby #2 than I did with the first one...it is a whole different set of problems and concerns. It is better to be safe than sorry...I hope his little button gets better soon!

take care.
Maple