What is an umbilical hernia?

An umbilical hernia is a soft lump under the skin at or around your baby’s belly button (umbilicus). Umbilical hernias are common in babies.

Umbilical hernias happen when tissue from inside your baby’s abdomen (tummy) pushes through an opening in their abdominal wall. You can usually push the lump back in.

Umbilical hernias in babies and children often get better on their own, around the age of 4 or 5 years. Surgery is sometimes needed to repair the hernia.

What are the symptoms of an umbilical hernia?

An umbilical hernia is a soft lump or bulge under the skin. Most umbilical hernias in babies are noticed shortly after birth, when the umbilical cord stump drops off. They rarely cause symptoms.

An umbilical hernia may be more noticeable when your baby:

• cries
• strains
• coughs

Your baby’s umbilical hernia may get bigger over the first few months of their life. Most umbilical hernias do not cause pain. Some older children may have mild discomfort.

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What causes an umbilical hernia?

The area where your baby’s umbilical cord was attached turns into their belly button. There is a ring of muscle around the belly button that closes after birth. Umbilical hernias happen when it takes longer than usual for this ring to close.

Umbilical hernias are more common in babies who are born with a low birth weight or born prematurely. They are also more common in babies with certain health conditions, such as Down syndrome.

When should I see my doctor?

Babies and children with an umbilical hernia should be checked by a doctor, as there can be complications.

Seek urgent medical attention if your baby or child has:

• severe pain around the hernia
• a hernia that you can’t push back in or that feels firm
• pain when you press on the hernia
• red or purple skin around the hernia
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• constipation

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How is an umbilical hernia diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask what you have noticed and examine your baby.

An umbilical hernia can be diagnosed by examining your baby. No tests are needed.

How is an umbilical hernia treated?

Most umbilical hernias close by the age of 5 years without any treatment.

Surgery may be needed if:

• the hernia hasn’t closed by the age of 4 to 5 years
• your child’s umbilical hernia is large
• your child has symptoms, such as pain
• the hernia is growing
• there are complications

Surgery

A hernia repair operation can be done under general anaesthetic. The procedure can usually be done as day surgery.

Your child may need to rest for a day or 2 after an umbilical hernia repair. Your doctor may recommend pain-relief medicines for your child as needed.

Rare complications of hernia repair operations are bleeding and infection. Sometimes the hernia can come back after surgery. This is more likely if the wound was infected, but it is still uncommon. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you before the surgery.

Your child will likely have a follow-up appointment with the surgeon after a few weeks.

What are the complications of an umbilical hernia?

Rarely, a part of your child’s bowel, other abdominal organs or tissue can become trapped inside an umbilical hernia. This is called an ‘incarcerated hernia’. It causes pain and discomfort. If this happens, you may not be able to push the hernia back in.

If the blood supply to the bowel inside the hernia is cut off, this is called a ‘strangulated hernia’.

If part of the bowel inside the hernia gets blocked, your child can get a bowel obstruction. This causes vomiting, constipation and abdominal (tummy) pain in babies.

Your doctor will tell you what to look for just in case these rare complications happen.

Emergency medical treatment is needed in these rare situations.

Can an umbilical hernia be prevented?

There is no known way to prevent an umbilical hernia from developing.

Resources and support

See your doctor or child health nurse if you are concerned your baby may have an umbilical hernia.

The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network has information on umbilical hernias.

Healthdirect has information on umbilical hernia repair.