Why Do Babies Belly Bleed?

What Causes Belly Bleeding in Babies?

There is an umbilical cord between the navel of the baby and the mother so that the babies can meet their nutrition and nutritional needs in the womb. With the help of this cord, babies get the nutrients they need from their mothers. After the birth, this bond is cut. The umbilical cord contains the veins and arteries. As the baby's navel falls, these vessels are blocked and closed with the help of coagulation, so bleeding does not occur. However, if the clotting is not sufficient, blood may leak from the navel, and this leakage may sometimes be in the form of bleeding. Umbilical bleeding in babies can be seen in babies in every month group, especially newborn babies in the days after birth. So, what causes umbilical bleeding in babies? Is it harmful for the baby to bleed after the navel drops? What kind of treatment method is applied to a baby with bleeding umbilical cord? Here are the details...

What Causes Umbilical Cord Bleeding?

Belly bleeding is usually seen in premature (premature) babies. Experts state that the reason for bleeding after the baby's navel falls, may be due to the incomplete clotting of the blood in the umbilical cord or a lack of vitamin K. For this reason, an injection containing vitamin K is given immediately after birth in order to prevent umbilical bleeding due to the condition in question, especially in premature babies. Child Health and Diseases Specialists say that umbilical bleeding, which is defined as bleeding from the navel of babies, usually stops spontaneously without any intervention. Doctors, who state that the bleeding navel should be cleaned very carefully, draw attention to the fact that bleeding will start again if the existing clot in the navel is removed.

Belly Care Should Be Done Once a Day

Emphasizing the importance of regular cleaning and dressing of newborn babies before and after the umbilical cord falls off, experts point out that the umbilical cord is the most sensitive area where the newborn baby will get infection and bacteria. For this reason, they say that it would be appropriate to take care of the baby's navel once a day.

Be Careful When Bathing Baby

Stating that it may take up to 2 to 3 weeks for the umbilical cord to fall off after the birth of the baby, experts say that the baby should not be bathed during this period (even if it is done, the navel should be kept dry), and in the bathing process to be done after the umbilical cord falls off, very slowly cleaning this area with a soft sponge and taking a bath. They underline that it would be appropriate to finish the process. It is recommended to dry the navel with a clean cloth without waiting too long after the bath and to clean it as recommended by the doctor when leaving the hospital.

Treatment Method in Case of Belly Bleeding

It is normal for your baby to have a little, short-term bleeding after the navel drops. However, if bleeding or discharge continues, you should consult your doctor. If bleeding continues despite the treatment, it is recommended to investigate the cause of non-coagulation, which may be due to birth, and to initiate appropriate treatment as soon as possible. In case of bleeding in your baby's navel, it is recommended to consult a specialist doctor without wasting time.