Infants Forum - Herniated belly button

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Q: Herniated belly button

asked by: Lilly Ivy on June 5th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Not sure if I've posted this yet (definitely haven't started my own thread), but my daughter has a herniated belly button. IOW, her abdominal wall (muscle) on her belly button did not grow together, and now her intestines are pushing through. It does not seem to bother her at all, but it has gotten a lot bigger since her umbilical stump fell off (I have pictures). It is now protruding a full inch from her abdomen.

She is 8wks old and her last doctor's appointment was when she was 2wks with a doctor that wasn't hers (I was at my mothers). I made an appointment three weeks ago, and the earliest they could get me in is on the 18th. The doctor felt her belly button and said he could only get his pinkie finger through it, which I think knocked something loose, because it's gotten steadily bigger since then.

I was wondering if anyone else had this? and what did they do. My husband's first child had it, but he said it was never that big. He also said they could operate on it when she's 6 months old. Anything to ease my mind until the doctor's appointment?

Replies(11)

monkeygirl22

replied on June 5th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

I don't really know much about this situation except that it's fairly common. She should be fine until the surgery at 6 months but I would definitely talk to your doctor at that appointment.

Idony

replied on June 5th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

its not a big deal, it is very very common. just push it back in as often as you can, if you really dont like it put something over it (elastic of pants, onsie, etc. it will go away on its own (there is actualy no medical reason to operate unless it becomes strangulated or painful for some rerason)

myths, do not tape anything to it, elastic pants/shorts,skirts work just as well and dont irritate the skin, she will not nessesarly have an outie belly button (its possible but it isnt guerenteed)it isnt typically dangerous or painful, it doesnt/shouldnt hurt to push it back in

Lilly Ivy

replied on June 5th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Thank you.

She always has a onsie on and it doesn't hurt at all when I push it in. The only problem is it feels like her intestines are getting harder, if that makes any sense. The best way I can describe it is it almost feels like its getting callused on the inside. I know they used to put a nickel over it and bind it that way (not sure if they used tape or not)

stepbak26

replied on July 9th, 2008

Experienced User

lilly Jayden's belly button is an "outie" too.. Its not that big but it is bigger and sticks out farther than it did when his stump fell off.. At his 2month appt, the dr did say that it was normal and that it usually happens when the child cries or strains and the abdominal wall is not together which does push the intestines a little.... Jaydens doctor said he seen some as big as a lemon on kids and that his was nothing to worry about unless he seemed to be in pain...I'd say its about 1/2 inch sticking out.. I also dont think it is growing out anymore because it has been the way it is since he was 8 wks and he is now 14wks (3 1/2 months)

Users who thank stepbak26 for this post: Lilly Ivy

Lilly Ivy

replied on July 13th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

My doctor said the same thing, he has definitely seen bigger ones.

My doctor (who has the longest and most complicated name I've ever heard!) says they won't do anything to it for at least two years. If it looks as though it is not healing by then, they will intervene. But if it does heal a little by then, and it's not completely healed by the time she's 4, they will intervene then. So chances are, it'll heal on it's own (hopefully).

Also (to my relief) it's apparently not the intestines themselves. It's the fluid and lining around them that come through.

2maca

replied on August 5th, 2008

New User

Herniated belly button

My daughter has a herniated belly button because when she was born the doctor ran her i.v. through her navel. They told me it would go down when she was 1 or 2. She's 7 and it's not going anywhere. I made her an appointment for surgery to fix it because she's becoming embarrassed by it poking through her shirts at school and kids can be cruel. Even though it doesn't cause her any pain I still don't want it effecting her self esteem. If it doesn't change by the time their two I don't think it will go away on its own.

Users who thank 2maca for this post: Lilly Ivy

tiffani_86

replied on August 25th, 2009

New User

no worries...

I have the EXACT situation. My son is 8 weeks old and his belly button protrudes quite a bit as well. At his 2 week check up my doctor told me they wouldn't do anything until he was a year old and I believe that was only if it bothered him.
I do however remember my younger sister having that as well. I can't remember how long she had it but probably at least until 2 years of age. At that age it became purple and she was in so much pain they had to do surgery in order to fix it. Nothing big, she doesn't even have a scar. Her belly button now looks normal (minus the diameter being a bit bigger than most) and it looks like an inny! Don't worry about it unless it starts to bother her. Smile

MJBABY329

replied on August 30th, 2009

New User

My three year old has one and my 2 month old does also. it is nothing to be concerned with, it is a veryy common thing. and they don't give surgery to 6 month old's. it has until they are about 3 or 4 to close up and even if it doesn't it will reduce in size as time goes on and if it doesn't bother them i wouldn't put them through surgery for no reason. don't be alarmed...

bugbearandbella

replied on September 10th, 2009

New User

belly button problem

my baby is 2 months old and just starting having a little pink,raw, skin poking through her belly button--with a little bit of wetness--no pain. I haven't taken her in for it yet--does this sound like a hernia?--it doesn't protrude when she cries--or at all really, just looks like intestines sticking out--

WinniesMom

replied on September 18th, 2009

New User

Herniated Belly Button

My little girl just turned on one. She's had a herniated belly button since she was born but it has gone down a bit. It was never raw and never had wetness around it, it just sticks out. I would be concerned if it appeared to be leaking at all. I would at least call the dr. just to ask about it. Both of my sister-in-laws had herniated belly buttons and had surgery when they were five or six so I am blaming my husbands genes for this (ha ha). Since it doesn't seem to bother her and is getting smaller, I am not worrying about it right now... I am busy enough just trying to keep up with her now that she's walking!

jkhgtdcttvhhyd

replied on October 4th, 2009

New User

my son is five weeks old i just took him to the doctor yesterday for his herniated belly button i was really concerned that he was in pain but aparently he isn't he doesn't seem to be so thats reasuring i heard about the taping of the coin over it as well but all the research i've done says that it is unnesesary and there is no proof that it will heal any quicker i would just think that it would irritate the skin so i am going to take the advice of the doctor and just keep an eye on it to be sure that it doesn't become hard or discolered and wait it out
it is actually a lot more common than i was aware apparently it occurs in 10 to 20 percent of all babies
also it has never been wet so i would definately take her to the doctor just incase because it does not sound like a hernia to me

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