Breast Milk and Umbilical Cord Care in Newborn

Newborns are particularly vulnerable to infectious microorganisms. The appropriate umbilical cord care can prevent infant mortality due to infection. Breast milk protein becomes a new method to fight staphylococcus infection on the skin. The objective of this research was to know the use of breast milk to umbilical cord care in newborns. Research was carried out by quasi experiment, posttest design with control group design. Research was conducted at the independent midwife practice in Yogyakarta. The Sample was 30 of newborns experiment group and 30 for the control group. The experimental group was smearing milk to the cord each time cleaning/drying the umbilical cord. The control group performed cord care by allowing its open dry without being smeared. The release of the cord is measured in minutes and observed in 2 stages (when the umbilical cord is removed and when the scar dries). Analysis is used to by t- test at significance level of 5% (p = 0.05). The results showed that there is difference average time required for the release and drying umbilical cord between experimental and control groups. The difference was not significant when the umblical cord releases, but it becomes significant when umbilical cord wound dries. Keywords: breast milk, umbilical cord, car