What are umbilical hernias?

Umbilical hernias are swollen bumps that appear when part of your intestines protrudes through the abdominal muscles near your belly button. If your child has a bulge around the belly button, he may have an umbilical hernia.

Before the umbilical cord falls off, you may notice that this area sticks out a little when the baby cries. Or maybe when the umbilical cord is gone you will see their belly button sticking out. In some cases, even if you don't see the bulge, you can feel it.

Causes of an umbilical hernia

While you are pregnant, the umbilical cord connects to your baby's abdominal muscles through a small opening. This usually closes after the baby is born. When this is not the case, the remaining gap is called an umbilical hernia. If intestines and fluid pass through it, they cause a protrusion or bloating in the abdomen.

Forget what you may have heard: how a doctor cuts or stretches the umbilical cord when your baby is born does not affect whether an umbilical hernia develops or not.

It's less common, but adults can get umbilical hernias too. Umbilical hernias in adults often occur over time as intra-abdominal pressure rises. You may have it because:

Chronic cough
Extra belly fluid
Problems urinating because of a large prostate
Constipation
Obesity
Straining in childbirth or weightlifting

Symptoms of an umbilical hernia

You will be able to see the hernia more clearly when your baby is crying, coughing, or straining to poop. This is because all these things put pressure on the stomach. When your child is resting, you may not see a hernia. They usually don't hurt.

Your child's doctor can determine if a hernia is present during a physical exam.

You should monitor your child's hernia closely for signs that the bowel is stuck in the hole and cannot come back. Doctors call it a strangulated hernia. Symptoms include:

Pain around the bellybutton area
Swelling in the area
Discoloration of the bellybutton area
Vomiting

If you notice any of these symptoms, take your child to the emergency room.

Diagnosis of an umbilical hernia

To understand if you are dealing with an umbilical hernia, the doctor will feel and examine the area. They will also ask you about your symptom history. Your doctor may try to see if he can push the hernia back into your abdomen. Sometimes your doctor may suggest that you have a CT scan to check for complications.

Treatment of umbilical hernia

Most umbilical hernias do not require treatment. The hole usually heals on its own by the time your child is 4 or 5 years old. Even if it isn't, it will probably get smaller. This will make the operation a little easier.

You may think your child needs surgery, but their doctor may suggest waiting to see if the problem goes away on its own. If the hole is large, they may recommend surgery before your child is 4 or 5 years old.

Your doctor may also suggest surgery if the hernia:

Painful
Large and does not shrink during the first 2 years of life
Stuck or blocked bowel

The procedure is performed in a hospital or outpatient surgical center. This will take about 45 minutes and your child will be under anesthesia and will not wake up.

The surgeon will make a small incision just below the navel. If part of the intestine protrudes, it is returned to its place. The doctor will put stitches to close the hernia. The incision will then be sealed with surgical adhesive to hold the edges of the wound together. This will go away on its own once the site is live.

After the procedure, your child will remain in the hospital until they recover from the anesthesia. Most children can go home after a few hours.

After surgery

Over-the-counter pain medication can help your baby feel better after surgery. As the child recovers, he should avoid swimming for 5-10 days and sports for 2-3 weeks.

Your doctor will schedule a follow-up visit in 2-4 weeks.

Call your doctor right away if your child has:

A fever
Redness, swelling, or pain
A bulge near the navel
Blood or smelly fluid near the cut
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation that doesn’t get better

Complications of an umbilical hernia

Complications from umbilical hernias are rare. If the hernia becomes incarcerated, the tissue may begin to die or cause pain. This is a serious complication that can cause infection in the abdominal cavity and even death.

In adults, intestinal obstruction occurs more often as a complication of a pinched hernia. If you have a blockage, you will need emergency surgery.

Most umbilical hernias in babies go away on their own by the time your child is 2 years old. If you have had an operation to repair an umbilical hernia, the recovery time will depend on the size of the hernia and the complexity of the operation. Children and adults who have surgery usually go home the day of surgery.

It will usually take you about 3-5 days to rest and heal. You should not lift anything heavy for about 3 weeks after surgery. Once your umbilical hernia goes away on its own or with surgery, it is unlikely to come back.