This is awful

This is awful but here is goes...
I have a 7 week old baby. I was in the hosp for 4 days with him as I had a c/section. I came home and of course babys cord stump was still attached. My midwife came to visit me the day after I got home from hosp. She checked the baby out and noticed his cord was about to fall off. She then TWISTED it and pulled it off!!!! So now he is 7 weeks and his belly button still isnt healed. Its so bad! We took him to the doctor today and the doctor said it was "overhealed". What does that mean exactly? He perscribed a ceptic stick like guys use to stop bleeding when they shave. I dont know how to use it on a belly button but Im afraid its going to burn the hell out of my poor little baby. Im so mad about the whole thing. If it were a US doctor that did this to a baby there would be a fat law suit! Sorry, just had to vent...
Pebbles

Oh...I am so sorry for you both  (Sometimes it is worse to be the mom and see your baby in pain than for them to feel the pain!) I hope you get this settled soon. I've never heard of anything like that before...makes me shudder just imagining that twisting (I've had five babies and just can't imagine her doing something like that at such an early stage!)

Yes its terrible I have four sons and with the first three the cord simply came off by itself as its supposed to. I couldnt believe my eyes when she was twisting it off. I asked why she was doing that and she said its barely on there and he would be OK. Im very surprised because my midwife has been a midwife for 32 years.

Oh my God, Pebbles.  That sounds horrible. 

Does he look like he's in discomfort?   You took him to the doctor and he gave you the stick.  He'll be fine.  Just keep a close eye on it.

Did the doctor seem to think that what the midwife did was wrong?

Kellie

Maybe you should call her and let her know the result of her actions? Maybe she can let you know what the dr. meant by "overhealed." If I were her, I would want to know...(and maybe not do it again?!)

I agree with geally.  I'd call her and let her know what problems that poor baby is having now because she was so reckless.

Meantime, I'm sure the stick the Dr. gave you will help.  I would guess by "overhealed" the doc means it's irritated from antiseptic going right onto the wound, but that's just a guess.

The baby doesnt seem to be bothered at all by it thank goodness but it just looks really gross! I cant phone my midwife because she never gave me a contact number for her personally. She and I developed a strong friendship actually and I think she felt this baby was sort of hers also. She used to pop around when I didnt even have an appt just to chat. She is a lovely person but as a medical professional I dont think I would go to her again. We told the doctor what had happened and he never said it was as a result of what the midwife did but what else would he say? This doctor (GP) by the way is in his mid 70s and retired two years ago. For some reason he still works parttime at the surgery. Just over a year ago I went to him complaining of pain in my right side and he said I had gall stones. Turned out he was 100% wrong...I was just pregnant! Oy vey! I really miss the US medical system despite the high insurance premiums.
Pebbles

I would NOT be happy with the midwife who twisted (ouch! ) it off like that. What the hell was she thinking??? And the doctor sounds kinda scary too. Is there another doctor you can have look at it?

My second son (now 10) had his umbilical stump fall off after less than a week as well and stupid me didn't even realise it was infected because he acted normal. It looked bad but I wasn't sure what to look for. Anyway when I took him to the doctor for a checkup at 3 weeks they told me it was infected and gave me medication to put on it and if I remember correctly gave me amoxicillin to give him. Good news is he has a beautiful belly button now. So everything turned out ok.

Poor little Man!!!  Good thing he is not bothered, but really, I would have been horrified!  I know you say she is very nice, but let those things fall off on their own!  I know that and I have no kids!

Just to say, I know he is a baby, so I don't know if you can do this, but when I had my belly pierced, I would soak it with salt water everyday for five minutes and wash it with anti-bacterial soap.  Might not be good for the little guy, but it helped me