Umbilical cord (or belly button) amputation is a surgical procedure that may be performed in some cases due to a child's medical condition or growth and development problems. The procedure involves cutting off part of the umbilical cord that connects the baby to the mother's placenta, leaving a small stump a few millimeters long, which is then tied off.
Why is amputation performed? This is usually associated with conditions such as:
- Dystocia of the umbilical arch is an incorrect position of the child, in which the umbilical cord is stretched between the child’s body and the mother’s abdominal wall, which can lead to oxygen starvation and other problems. The surgeon cuts off part of the umbilical cord and leaves a small section, which is then tied to prevent further tension. - Retarded umbilical cord growth - when a baby does not experience growth of the umbilical cord after a certain period of time during which it should have grown to a certain size. In this case, the surgeon can also perform surgery