Do umbilical hernias go away in babies?

Key points to remember. There is a good chance that your child’s umbilical hernia will close on its own. Most of the time, a hernia that starts before 6 months of age will go away by 1 year of age. Your child may need surgery if the hernia is very large or if a hernia of any size has not gone away by age 5.

When should I be concerned about an umbilical hernia in babies?

If a child who has an umbilical hernia has the following symptoms, seek emergency care right away: pain in the area of the hernia; tenderness, swelling or discoloration of the hernia; an inability to easily push in the hernia tissue; and vomiting or constipation.

Can I push my baby’s umbilical hernia back in?

Sometimes it is hard to tell if the hernia is causing the child to cry or if the child’s crying is causing the hernia to pop out. Usually, if the child is able to relax, the hernia can be pushed back in. If it cannot, then it may be incarcerated and the child should be brought to the emergency center immediately.

How serious is a hernia in a baby?

About 3-5% of healthy, full-term babies are born with an inguinal hernia. In premature infants, the incidence is substantially increased―up to 30%! If an inguinal hernia is not treated, it can cause serious problems.

How can I treat my baby’s umbilical hernia at home?

In babies and young children, most umbilical hernias close without surgery. But larger umbilical hernias or those that become strangulated will require surgery. In adults, surgery is elective and recommended. There are no home treatments to “fix” an umbilical hernia without surgery.

How do you fix a baby umbilical hernia?

Surgery to repair the hernia is performed under general anesthesia. A small incision is made at the base of the belly button. If any intestine is present in the hernia, it is placed back into the abdominal cavity. The opening in the muscle is then repaired with multiple layers of stitches to prevent another hernia.

What happens if you leave an umbilical hernia untreated?

An umbilical hernia is not dangerous in itself, but there is a risk that it will get trapped (incarcerated). This can cut off the blood supply to the contents of the hernia, causing life-threatening conditions such as gangrene or peritonitis (if this happens, the hernia is said to be strangulated).

What does a hernia look like on a baby?

The main sign of an umbilical hernia is a visible bump under the skin by the belly button. The hernia can get bigger and smaller: It can get bigger when a child does something that creates pressure in the belly, like standing up, crying, coughing, or straining to poop.

How do you treat a baby’s umbilical hernia?

Umbilical Hernia Treatment Most umbilical hernias don’t need any treatment. Usually, the hole heals on its own by the time your child is 4 or 5 years old. Even if it doesn’t, it’ll likely get smaller. That’ll make surgery a bit easier.

How serious is an umbilical hernia?

What causes baby umbilical hernia?

What causes an umbilical hernia? During pregnancy, the umbilical cord passes through an opening in the baby’s abdomen (tummy). This opening should close shortly after birth, but in some cases the muscles don’t seal completely. This leaves a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall (abdominal wall).

Can you fix an umbilical hernia without surgery?

In many children, umbilical hernias can often be resolved with simple exercises instead of surgery. For adults, however, surgery is often required, and gentle exercise helps during recovery. Umbilical hernias in adults are generally caused by high amounts of pressure in the abdomen.