Ewwww Gross!

You do know that hair and nails are all dead too, right?

Just follow the simple instructions everyone has given you, it'll be fine.

Aren't you supposed to gnaw it off during a full moon? Or plant it with a tree?
Wait--maybe I'm mixing up the umbilical cord with something else! LOL

Seriously, about a week or two.

Doesn't bother me but I found the umbilical cord stump in the baby's bed and picked it up to show my husband and he thought it was seriously disgusting so you aren't alone in your thoughts. It fell off about a week and a half after we brought her home.

That thing is the easiest thing you will have to deal with as a Mom. Clean it and leave it...it will take care of itself.

Good advice already. You aren't alone - I was totally grossed out by my kids' umbilical cords. What really got to me is that it starts to stink after a while. Bleh! Thankfully it will fall off after a week or two!

Each child is different. Both of my boy babies were NICU babies. Greg's fell off at 9 days. Nicky, I think was 14 days.

Ask your pediatrician if you can put a band aid over it to keep it from getting snagged on by diapers and clothes. Other than that - you are good mama - congratulations!!

If I remember right it was like two weeks. Just keep putting alcohal on it with a qutip and it will dry it out and fall off.

Despite it being less than two years ago that I had to deal with one, I'm wondering if you can't loosely cover it with some gauze if it really grosses/freaks you out.

As long as it's dry, I would imagine that it would be okay - my main point of contention is attaching the gauze to the baby's delicate skin... medical tape?

It'll be gone in a week or two. Just let it air out. I was told not to put alcohol on it as it might irritate her skin and wasn't really necessary. As long as you are gentle, you won't hurt your baby.

It is really not a big deal. It will fall off in a week or two. Just keep it dry and clean.