A male infant is to be discharged home this morning. Which instruction related to his cord care should be included in his mother’s discharge teaching plan?
A.
Keep the umbilical area moist with Vaseline until the stump falls off.
B.
Keep the umbilical area covered at all times with the diaper.
C.
Clean the umbilical cord with alcohol at each diaper change.
D.
Clean the umbilical cord daily with soap and water during the bath.
(A) The umbilical area should be kept dry for healing to occur. Moisture is conducive to bacterial growth and therefore could lead to infection at the site. (B) The diaper should be folded below the cord to allow the cord stump to be exposed to the air for healing. (C) The umbilical cord should be swabbed with alcohol at each diaper change to remove urine and stool and to facilitate the desiccation process through drying. (D) Soap and water should not be used to clean the umbilical area because the area could retain moisture, thus making it susceptible to bacterial growth and infection.
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