An umbilical hernia is a fairly common complication in infants, which occurs in the earlies stages of life. It manifests through the abdominal content protruding around the sore spot near the bellybutton. It is important to note that while this may be concerning for the parents, in most cases it resolves on its own. Being aware about the condition is critical because symptoms and treatment options are available.
What is an Umbilical Hernia?
During the first stages of a child development, the umbilical chord travels to the newly formed stomach muscles of the infant through an opening. This placement region closes off at the end of the pregnancy, but when it does not, a small hole emerges. That small hole allows tissues and small fragments of the intestines to be pushed out when pressure is exerted around it. This can happen when the child coughs or even cries.
Umbilical hernias are more likely to occur in:
- Premature babies.
- Babies with low birth weight.
- African-American infants, however, there is no clear understanding as to why this is the case.
Signs and Symptoms
An umbilical hernia is simple to identify. Common signs include:
- A feeling of soft bulge around the newborns belly button that becomes prominent when the baby tries to cry or laugh.
When the infant is calm or lying flat, the bulge usually gets smaller or vanishes completely. Discomfort or pain is rare. Most umbilical hernias don’t cause pain and do not have a lot of complications. One thing to note, however, is that parents must seek medical assistance once the hernia: becomes larger than normal, the color changes, or it gets sore and is somewhat painful to touch, can’t be pushed back into the abdomen, or vomiting and pain in the abdomen are present.
Treatment Methods
Watchful Waiting
Most children start resolving an umbilical hernia without the need for any help around the age of 1 – 2 years old. Therefore, pediatricians recommend monitoring the child unless any complications arise. Instead, general parents should focus on tracking any size, color or behavioral changes in their child.
Surgical Repair
Surgery is not needed very often, however, some circumstances may lead to surgeons recommending it: the child is over 3-4 years and still has the hernia, the size of the hernia is big making it almost impossible to disappear on its own, and no signs of complications being present – such as the strangulation of intestine.
A single repair, or multiple hernia repairs, can be performed through an open incision or laparoscopically for minimal recovery time and discomfort. The procedure is followed by closing the chances of future becoming, by reinforcing the area itself. Most of all, this procedure can be done on an outpatient basis meaning the recovery of the little gets over very quickly with minimum pain.
What Not To Do
Outdated methods such as placing coins on the hernia don’t provide any value when it comes to treatment. Instead, they could lead to skin irritation or even infection.
Preventive Measures and Parental Care
While hernia prevention is never guaranteed, the parents can take certain steps to ensure that their child stays in overall good shape.
- Allow gentle tummy time to assist them in strengthening their stomach muscles.
- Don’t overfeed them to lessen the pressure on the abdomen.
- Make sure the area around the umbilical area is clean and dry to avoid the possibility of an infection.
When To See A Doctor
Parents must make an appointment with best hernia surgeon if:
- The hernia enlarges or becomes different in shape.
- The baby seems to be in discomfort or pain.
- There are signs of serious issues such as: bruising or not being able to ease the hernia.
Dr. Kapil Agrawal is a leading laparoscopic surgeon with experience, skills, and good patient interaction capabilities. A highly accomplished gallbladder stone surgeon in Delhi who was trained at some of the best hospitals in London, he has 23 years of experience. He has done over 7000 advanced laparoscopic and robot-assisted gall bladder surgeries.
Conclusion
Umbilical hernias are a common phenomenon among infants. More often than not, they go away on their own so there is usually no need for medical intervention. However, it is crucial to keep an eye on the situation and get professional help if other issues occur. With the right information As well as instructions from the pediatric, parents can take care of their baby in the best possible manner.
