The soft bulge this creates is an umbilical hernia. It is most obvious when the baby cries, coughs, or strains. Umbilical hernias are more common in female, African-American, and low birth weight babies. These hernias range in size from less than 1/2 inch (2 centimeters) to more than 2 inches (6 centimeters).

In most instances an umbilical hernia causes an infant no discomfort. Usually, a doctor can easily push it back in. An infant's umbilical hernia (unlike an adult's) rarely obstructs or strangulates. In fact, most umbilical hernias, even the larger ones, tend to close up on their own by age 2. That's why the doctor usually advises waiting and watching this kind of hernia in an infant rather than operating.

Surgery is necessary only if the hernia is very large, grows in size after age 1 or 2, fails to heal by age 4 or 5, or your child develops symptoms of obstruction or strangulation, like swelling, bulging, vomiting, fever, and pain. If such symptoms develop, call the doctor immediately.

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.