Umbilical cord care: a pilot study comparing topical human milk, povidone-iodine, and dry care
1Gazi University School of Nursing, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
To compare the incidence of omphalitis among three groups, each using a different type of newborn cord care: povidone-iodine, dry care, and topical human milk.
Design:
Case control.
Setting:
A large urban university hospital in Turkey and participant homes after discharge.
Participants:
150 healthy, full-term newborns and their mothers.
Interventions:
Umbilical cord care consisted of one of three methods: topical application of povidone-iodine twice daily, topical application of mother's milk twice daily, or dry care (keeping the cord dry and clean).
Main Outcome Measure:
Outcome was measured in terms of the presence or absence of omphalitis and the number of days elapsed before cord separation. An ongoing questionnaire was administered by telephone every other day after the participants left the hospital. In addition to demographic information, the cord separation day and any signs of omphalitis were recorded in the questionnaire.
Results:
There were no significant differences between the three groups in terms of omphalitis occurrence. Two cases of omphalitis were observed (one in the human milk group, one in the povidone-iodine group). Interestingly, babies in the dry care or topical human milk group had shorter cord separation times than those in the povidone-iodine group.
Conclusion:
The cultural practice of applying human milk to the umbilical cord stump appears to have no adverse effects and is associated with shorter cord separation times than are seen with the use of antiseptics.
