Different hospitals give different recommendations with regard to cord care. Some may have you do nothing while others recommend cleansing with an alcohol swab. The goal is the same: to keep the cord clean and dry so that it falls off by itself over 1-4 weeks. You may notice a clear to slightly blood-tinged discharge oozing from the navel for a few days after the cord falls off. You should call your physician if there is drainage that lasts longer than 2-3 days, has a foul odor, or if there is redness in the skin surrounding the cord.
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