Umbilical hernias are swollen bumps that appear when part of your intestines sticks out through your abdominal muscles near your navel. If your baby has a bulge around the bellybutton, that may have an umbilical hernia.
Before the umbilical cord falls off, you may notice that the area seems to stick out a little more when the baby cries. Or maybe, once the cord is gone, you see that their navel sticks out ( an "outie", as it's commonly called). In some cases, even if you can't see a bulge, you might be able to feel one.
Causes
While you are pregnant, the umbilical cord is connected to your baby's abdominal muscle through a small hole. This usually closes up after the baby's born. When it does not, the gap that is left is called an umbilical hernia. If intestine and fluid poke through it, they cause the belly to bulge or swell.
Forget what you may have heard: The way the doctor cuts or clamps the cord when your child is born does not affect whether an umbilical hernia will form or not.
It is less common, but adults can also get umbilical hernias. Adult umbilical hernias often happen when abdominal pressure goes up. You might have this because of:
- Chronic cough
- Extra belly fluid
- Problems urinating because of a large prostate
- Constipation
- Obesity
- Staining in childbirth or weightlifting
Symptoms
You will be able to see the hernia most clearly when your child cries, coughs, or stains while trying to poop. That is because all of these things put pressure on the abdomen. When your child rests, you might not able to see the hernia. Usually, they don't hurt.
You will want to keep a close eye on your child's hernia for signs that the intestine has been trapped in the hole and can't go back. Doctors call this an incarcerated 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 baby to the emergency room.
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