Bleeding occurring in infants’ belly button in the first days of life and for some other days once the umbilical cord is clipped off should not be related to any serious health concern. Cautious care and proper hygiene will be enough to cure it completely. However, bleeding belly button in adults should be paid attention to, especially if it is caused by external factors, such as belly button piercing that may lead to further serious infection.

How to stop belly button from bleeding

There are some people who are prone to belly button bleeding triggered by different causes. They are:

• Those having their belly button pierced. While light bleeding is normal during the first day of piercing procedure, persistent bleeding should be a concern, as it may indicate an infection.
• Those who are overweight. Someone who is overweight usually have a poor hygiene practice over the belly button area. As a result, it becomes a perfect environment wherein bacteria may thrive and grow, causing infection that may lead to bleeding.

Related to these most common causes of navel bleeding, there are some actions to take in order to stop belly button from bleeding:

Washing the infected area

Use mild antibacterial soap.

Avoid rubbing the infected area too hard as it may aggravate the infection.

Pat the area dry after washed.

Observe the underlying cause

There are some possible causes leading to belly button bleeding. Observing the main cause of your navel bleeding will give a clue on what the most proper treatment will be.

Stopping bleeding in baby’s umbilical cord

• Avoid bathing the baby in the sink or tub until the cord falls off, as submerging baby’s umbilical into the water will affect its ability to dry out and thus, trigger prolonged bleeding.
• Dip a cotton swab into alcohol solution and dab the bleeding area with the solution. This will help drying out the cord, triggering it to fall off faster.
• Leave the area untouched, including by the diaper. Change the diaper often, avoiding baby’s urine to touch the cord.

Stopping bleeding in navel due to piercings

• Note that all piercings are open wound, which are sensitive to touch and scratches.
• If the pierced site is bleeding and inflamed, put on a cold compress to reduce the inflammation. Avoid applying ice cubes directly on the wound, though, as it may cause skin burn.
• Soak the bleeding site with saline solution and leave it for 15 minutes. You can also dip a cotton ball into the solution and compress the infection site with the ball, draining the blood without squeezing it.
• Repeat the treatment several times a day and keep the area clean and dry.
• Avoid touching the area or taking off the piercing ring as it may aggravate the problem.

Stopping bleeding in navel due to post-surgery infection

• Observe the stitches, making sure they are not tore or opened before the surgery lesion is fully healed.
• If you spot some dried blood on the infection site, get rid of it by carefully wipe it off using a washcloth soaked in warm water. While doing this, observe some other possible drainage that come out of the wound.
• Use saline solution to rinse the post-surgery site around the navel.
• Immediately go to see a doctor, since untreated bleeding post-surgery wound can be harmful. You will be prescribed antibiotics to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, keep the site clean and dry and periodically check the drainage.