Have you ever wondered why you have a belly button? Let's talk about this little secret!

Have you ever looked at your stomach in the mirror and thought, 'Hmm... what's this bump? Why do I have it?'? Maybe your little one has asked you that. It's actually a small but very important part of our body that has a very interesting story. Let's talk about it today in a simple way that you can understand, okay?

What exactly is a buriya?

Simply put, your navel is a small, cute 'mark' on your body. This mark is what always reminds us of the very special, life-giving cord that connected you to your mother when you were in her womb. We call this cord 'Pekaniwela' in Sinhala. In English, it is called `Umbilical Cord'. So, your navel is where that life-giving cord connected to your body. Some people also call the navel 'navel', and you may have heard the word `(Navel)' used for this in English.

What is the importance of the umbilical cord while in the mother's womb?

Imagine, a little baby inside the mother's womb, that is, inside the womb, for about nine or ten months, gradually, starting from a cell, grows into a complete little human being. But this baby cannot eat food, drink water, or breathe the air outside like us, right? That's where this 'magic tube' called the umbilical cord comes to the rescue. It is like a 'special supply line' that provides everything the baby needs without any shortage. It is through the umbilical cord that the baby receives all the nutrition it needs from the mother, that is, in simple terms, food and drink. In this nutrition, there are many valuable things like `(Vitamins)` (types of vitamins) and `(Minerals)` (minerals) that are essential for the baby's growth, brain development, and strong bones, in short, everything. Just like you eat nutritious food to grow well, the baby also receives all that nutrition from the mother through this umbilical cord. Not only that, but the umbilical cord also carries waste products produced by the baby's daily life processes, that is, things that are not needed by the baby, back to the mother's body. Then, the mother's body systems efficiently remove those waste products. The umbilical cord is truly an amazing creation. It usually has three blood vessels inside it.

• One is a vein, the Umbilical Vein. This is where clean blood , rich in oxygen and nutrients, is carried from the mother's placenta to the baby.
• The other two are the umbilical arteries, which carry the used blood, along with carbon dioxide and waste products produced by the baby's body, back to the placenta.

Isn't this a very complex, yet wonderfully designed process? All of this happens while you're still in your mother's womb!

How does the umbilical cord fall off and become a bursa?

Okay, now the baby is well-formed and completely ready to come into this world. When the baby is born, it makes a loud noise, 'Koo-oong... Koo-oong...', right? That's how the baby tells the world, 'I can breathe on my own now! I don't need oxygen from the umbilical cord anymore!' After a while, it starts drinking milk from its mother and excreting waste on its own. Anyone who has changed a baby's diaper knows this very well! So, a newborn baby doesn't need another umbilical cord. That's why the doctor or midwife cuts this umbilical cord after the baby is born and separates the baby from the mother. When this is cut, the baby doesn't feel any pain . The reason for this is that the umbilical cord doesn't have any pain-sensing nerves. After the umbilical cord is cut, a small part, let's say a 'stump', remains on the baby's belly where the umbilical cord was attached. This is what doctors call the `(Umbilical Stump)`. This small part gradually dries up over a few weeks (usually within a week, two, maximum three weeks) and falls off on its own, like a dry leaf falling off a tree. After that, the baby is left with a cute little bump of his own! That's that little, sometimes very cute-looking 'eternal mark' that we all have on our bellies.

"Innie" or "Outie"? What's your name?

Now take a look at your vagina. Is it sunken in and looks like a little hole? Then it's called an 'innie' vagina. Or, is it slightly protruding and looks like a little bump? Then it's an 'outie' vagina. Most people in the world, roughly 90%, have an 'innie' vagina. But an 'outie' vagina is also very common. A common misconception among many people is that the way the doctor cuts the umbilical cord determines whether a vagina is 'innie' or 'outie'. But that's not the case . The shape of your belly button is actually determined by how the wound heals after the umbilical stump dries out, that is, the scar tissue that forms. Sometimes, if a small amount of scar tissue forms in that area, it can become a 'protrusion'. Sometimes, if there is a small gap between the muscles surrounding the belly button of the baby, and a small part of the intestine pushes out through it, that is, if there is an umbilical hernia, it can look like a 'protrusion' belly button. This condition called ``Umbilical Hernia`` often goes away on its own when babies get a little older, after a year or two, that is, it gets better.

So, whether your vagina is 'in' or 'out', it's completely normal and healthy. It's part of your identity. There's no reason to be embarrassed or ashamed about it. Everyone's vagina is a little different, just like our fingerprints!

How to care for a newborn baby's umbilical cord stump?

This is very important for a mother or father with a newborn baby. The small part of the umbilical cord that remains, the ``Umbilical Stump``, must be taken care of properly until it dries out on its own. Because there is a small chance that the baby can get infections through it. So, what should we do?

• Keep it clean and dry: This is the most important thing . Keep the rest of the umbilical cord and the area around it as dry as possible. It's best to be careful not to get the area wet when bathing your baby. Or, after birth, gently, but thoroughly, pat it dry with a clean, soft cloth or cotton ball.
• Place the diaper underneath: Fold the diaper underneath the baby's umbilical cord, not over the rest of the umbilical cord. This will allow for proper ventilation, help it dry faster, and reduce the chance of urine or other substances getting on it.
• About wiping with alcohol: In the past, it was recommended to clean the remaining part of the umbilical cord with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol several times a day. But now many pediatricians say that you don't need to do anything special, just keep it clean and dry. Because once you apply alcohol, it may take a while for it to dry. So it's always best to ask your doctor about this and follow his advice.
• Watch for signs of infection : This is very important. If the skin around the umbilical cord stump is red, swollen, feels warm to the touch, has a yellow, pus -like discharge, has a foul odor, or the baby has a fever , it could be a sign of an umbilical cord infection (Omphalitis). If you notice any of these , you should see a doctor immediately, without delay.

This `(Stump)` usually dries out and falls off on its own within 1-3 weeks. Don't pull it out by hand or try to remove it, okay? Just let it fall off on its own.

Are there any other problems that may arise regarding the buriya?

Usually, the vagina is a harmless, cute part of our body. But very rarely, some minor problems can arise. Let's be a little aware of that too.

• Umbilical Hernia:We talked about this a little earlier when we talked about 'outie' hernias. What happens in this case is that there is a small gap between the muscles in the baby's abdominal cavity, and a small part of the intestine pushes out through it. This can be seen a little larger when the baby cries, coughs, or burps, and when touched, it goes back in. But most of the time, there is nothing to worry about. When babies are 1-2 years old, and sometimes even later, this `(Hernia)` gets better on its own, meaning that the gap closes. But if it is very large, if there is pain, if the color changes, or if it does not get smaller after 4-5 years, it is a good idea to see a doctor and get advice.
• Infections: We talked about the possibility of infection (Omphalitis) in the umbilical cord of newborns. This happens if it is not properly cared for. Even in adults, if the umbilical cord is not cleaned properly, sometimes sweat , dirt, and soap scum can accumulate and cause bacterial or fungal infections. If this happens, the umbilical cord may become red, itchy, smell bad, and have a wet or oozing discharge. Therefore, it is important to clean the umbilical cord thoroughly and keep it dry when bathing.
• Umbilical Granuloma: After the umbilical cord falls off, sometimes a small, pinkish-red, moist lump of flesh develops at the site. This is called an Umbilical Granuloma. It is usually painless, but it may continue to ooze a small amount of fluid, which can stain clothing. When shown to a doctor, it can sometimes be treated with a small amount of medication (such as silver nitrate).

These things are very rare. But it's good to know, right? If you see anything unusual or suspicious in your vagina or in your baby's vagina, the best thing to do is to seek medical advice.

Finally, here are some important things you need to remember! (Take-Home Message)

So, we've talked a lot about your belly button today, haven't we? The story behind this small, sometimes overlooked part of the body is both fascinating and very important.

Remember, your belly button is a lasting, sweet reminder of the beloved umbilical cord that kept you alive, nourished you, and was your first lifeline while you were in your mother's womb!

• Whether it's an 'innie' sunken into your vagina or an 'outie' protruding out, it's completely normal . It's yours, a part of your body.
• If you have a newborn baby, it is very important to keep the umbilical stump clean and dry . Always watch for signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus, bad odor, fever).
• If you notice anything unusual about your or your baby's vagina (such as a large swelling, severe pain, or a discharge with a bad odor), don't panic and seek medical advice without delay.
• Your vagina is another important part of your body. It's your responsibility to be aware of it and keep it clean.

So, I hope you found what I talked about today very useful. When you look at your umbilical cord again, you will definitely remember this wonderful, loving story behind it! Umbilical cord, newborn baby, baby health, umbilical cord, umbilical cord care