bulging belly button

[maddymoo]

My bubs belly button has recently popped out she is 8 months now and did have a normal inside belly button. I can actually push it back in but it feels kinda weird like there is a little squishy lump there. My hubby is concerned and thinks she's got a hernia. I have heard this is fairly common with babies. It's got me wondering if it is -she used to have a few problems with constipation and would strain alot. I will get it checked out though. Is it fairly common for bubs to get hernias? and is there anything you can actually do about it?

[poshBecks]

Hey maddymoo.... I'm not sure but I'd get it checked anyways :thumbsup:

[bootylicious]

sounds like a hernia ... i have an umbiliacal hernia (from pregnancy) and when it *pops out* i too can push it back in! I would get it checked out by a doctor ... for peace of mind if nothing else!!

[maddymoo]

Well i took DD to doc's and yes it is an umbilical hernia. Theres nothing that can be done at this stage though and It should go away within a couple of years. Thanks for advice girls!

[becca74]

My son had an umbilical hernia and it definately disappeared before his 1st birthday (I honestly cant remember when it disappeared, it may have been much sooner than that). He just has a normal outie bellybutton now....

[maddymoo]

Just wondering Becca? Did your son have any tummy problems such as constipation while the hernia was out? My girl has some issues with this and I was thinking it could be cos of hernia. The Doctor reckons not though. But I don't think she really cares either.

[becca74]

No, Josh never seemed bothered by it at all, no discomfort or constipation....but I wouldnt know if it can have different effects on different babies.....It is annoying when drs are so ignorant to our genuine fears!!! I did read somewhere that what is protuding from the hernia could be a couple of different organs, but in most cases it is the intestine (which was in my sons case).

Maybe try getting her constipation treated by the GP as a separate issue to the hernia, and see if it clears up or not - if not then maybe your instincts are telling you it is connected to the hernia, and be persistant with the GP. The hernia really will fix itself when your daughter gets bigger, but I understand your feas because I remember (before speaking to GP) freaking out over thinking my baby would need surgery, as talking to people who had never seen or heard of umbilical hernia before, only adult hernia, they all kept trying to tell me that he would need an operation - but the Dr insisted that it would go away by itself, and it did......

I have read that it can stay that way up to even age 4, but again, it is something which will disappear, and I would only worry about it if your daughter gets beyond the age of 4 and still has it......and I am sure she wont even have it when she is 2, let alone 4 ;)

[maddymoo]

Thankyou very much Becca for your supportive words. I think I will persist with the doctor and get this constipation sorted out. I'm sick of being told it's normal! Tell you what - I would be pretty irritable if i had not gone in a week! I'm not so concerned about the hernia anymore. Thanks to your reassurance. As long as my girl's happy, so am I!

[JorBai]

Hi there!

My son actually had an Inguinal hernia which is in the groin area and had to have it operated on. However the Dr did tell us Hernias are very common and usually are Belly button hernias. He said that with a Belly button hernia they will usually disappear themselves although in our case a groin hernia can cause twisted bowel and can cause damage or loss of the testes.

My son had the operation at 9 weeks old and came through it extremely well. He had colic quite bad and it seemed to ease a little after the op.

Hope your little one goes well and Im sure the hernia will disappear on its own :)