3 week old belly button a bit red and oozy?

[nannynome]

Have noticed DS's belly button is a a bit red and oozy, only just happened today. Is this normal for newborns or do I need to phone doctor/HV? Thanks.

Oozy isn't necessarily a worry on it's own. Is it smelly? Definitely get it checked if it's smelly!

We we're advised to clean DD's with cooled boiled water twice a day.

This is how ours went, gp prescribed anti biotics!

DS3 was back in hospital for failing to feed due to possible infection at 4 days old. He was very lethargic, slept through a bath!
I thought his cord stump smelled awful and oozy so mentioned it to the consultant. He said healing flesh and infected flesh had similar characteristics, if it was infected the skin around it would be red as well as him having the other symptoms.

Cord fell off at a week old, it has been absolutely fine til now. Is oozy and a bit crusty but doesn't smell. He is a bit lethargic today but then having just come out of 4 days of cluster feeding I am not sure what is normal for him right now. Will keep an eye on him, take his temp when we get back home and then call if he is still sleepy all afternoon. Is difficult to judge because we have been in the car and with the buggy which makes him sleep anyway. :/

We had to get dds belly button cauterised twice. Sounds scary but not painful at all for her. Just done by gp with what looks like a matchstick. I think at 6 weeks old I spotted that when she stretched it looked raw (red and wet) inside, and I didn't want to risk an infection. Hth.

Sounds like it could be an umbilical granuloma, nothing to worry about and easily treated by putting some salt on it - get an appointment with your GP though just to check

Get your GP to have a look. Most likely it's nothing drastic but better to get checked. Dd had this and had it turned out to be a Urachal Cyst. I think that's quite unusual but worth getting checked.

Just spoken to the gp as I was getting more worried as the day went on. She is seeing him at 5pm having phoned me and spoken to me about it. Thank goodness for decent doctors!

Glad the GP was able to see you. How did you get on?

Little insert expletive here slept and didn't really wake up from 7am-4.00pm, worried me senseless about it being because of the oozy belly button, wasn't interested in food then at 4pm decided he was ravenous and was beyond bright eyed and bushy tailed when we got to doctors :/ all is well, clean around with water and cotton wool then dry with a muslin. Feel very daft panicked mum!

Don't feel daft. You've just had your first experience of a worryingly ill child perking up the moment you arrive at the GP surgery! It won't be the last.

My paediatrician in Germany told me that they'd rather see a mum with a child once too often, than the alternative.

Keep an eye on him and if you are worried again, let the GP have another look.

Never mind nanny we all go through it at least once
He is ok and that is the main thing.