Umbilical hernia
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of your intestine swells through the opening in your abdominal muscles near your belly button (navel). Umbilical hernias are common and usually harmless.
Umbilical hernias are most common in infants, but they can also affect adults. Umbilical hernia in a baby can occur especially when the baby cries and can cause the belly button to protrude. This is a classic sign of an umbilical hernia.
Children’s umbilical hernias usually close spontaneously in the first two years of life, but some remain open for the fifth year or longer. Umbilical hernias that occur in adulthood are more likely to require surgical repair.
The symptoms
An umbilical hernia creates a soft bump or bulge near the navel. In babies with umbilical hernias, swelling can only be seen when they cry, cough or have difficulty.
Umbilical hernias in children are usually painless. Umbilical hernias that occur in adulthood can cause abdominal discomfort.
When to see a doctor
If you suspect your baby has an umbilical hernia, talk to the baby’s doctor. If your baby has an umbilical hernia, seek emergency help and:
Seems to be in pain
Starts to vomit
There is tenderness, swelling or discoloration in the hernia area
Similar rules apply to adults. Talk to your doctor if you have a lump near your navel. If the protrusion becomes painful or tender, seek emergency help. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications.
Reasons
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord passes through a small opening in the baby’s abdominal muscles. The opening normally closes immediately after birth. If the muscles in the midline of the abdominal wall do not join completely, umbilical hernia may occur at birth or later.
Too much abdominal pressure in adults contributes to umbilical hernias. Causes of increased pressure in the abdomen include:
- Obesity
- Multiple pregnancies
- Fluid in the abdominal cavity
- Previous abdominal surgery
- Prolonged peritoneal dialysis to treat kidney failure
Risk factors
Umbilical hernias are most common in infants – especially premature babies and low birth weight babies. In the United States, the risk of umbilical hernia appears to be slightly higher in black babies. The condition affects boys and girls equally.
For adults, being overweight or multiple pregnancies can increase the risk of developing an umbilical hernia. This type of hernia tends to be more common in women.
Complications
Umbilical hernia complications for children are rare. Complications can occur when the protruding abdominal tissue is compressed (trapped) and can no longer be pushed back into the abdominal cavity. This reduces blood flow to the compressed bowel section and can lead to abdominal pain and tissue damage.
If the stuck part of the intestine is completely cut from the blood supply, it can cause tissue death. The infection can spread to the abdominal cavity, causing a life-threatening condition.
Adults with an umbilical hernia are slightly more likely to experience blockages in the intestines. Emergency surgery is typically required to treat these complications.
