My newborn is bleeding from the umbilical cord. What should I do?
A little bleeding or dried blood is normal, but seek immediate medical attention if you can't stop the bleeding.
A small amount of bleeding from the umbilical cord is often a normal part of cord separation. You may find dried blood on your baby’s umbilical cord from time-to-time, which is completely normal. When this happens, simply clean the dried blood from the cord with water.
If your baby’s umbilical cord looks bloody and you cannot stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the cord, then you must seek medical attention immediately. Although rare, this could be a sign of a bleeding disorder, and it is important that the bleeding is controlled before your baby loses too much blood.
Reviewed by Dr. Sara Connolly, August 2019
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