A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about the care of their newborn’s umbilical cord. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A.
“I should keep the cord covered with my baby’s diaper.”
B.
“I should clean the cord with antibacterial soap with each diaper change.
C.
“I should notify my baby’s provider if there is odor coming from the cord.”
D.
“I should expect some bright red bleeding from the cord until it falls off.”
The statement that indicates an understanding of the teaching is:
C. “I should notify my baby’s provider if there is odor coming from the cord.”
A foul odor from the umbilical cord can be a sign of infection, and it’s important to notify the healthcare provider if this occurs. The other statements reflect misunderstandings about umbilical cord care.