Umbilical hernias occur most often in infants but can also occur in adults. The most common causes of umbilical hernias in adults are:.
Hernias are usually diagnosed during a physical examination by a health care provider. The provider will look and feel for a bulge or swelling in the belly button area. The swelling may be more noticeable when a baby cries and may get smaller or go away when a baby relaxes or rests on its back. During the examination, the provider will determine if the hernia is reducible—if it can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity. The provider will also look for and complete a medical history to determine if the umbilical hernia has become incarcerated trapped within the abdominal opening , a serious medical condition in which the protruding intestine becomes trapped and deprived of blood supply.
The intestine can quickly become necrotic if not repaired, which requires surgical removal of the affected intestine. Symptoms of a strangulated umbilical hernia include:. The provider may order blood tests to look for signs of infection resulting from the strangulated intestine. Any tissue that bulges into the hernia sac is pushed back inside the belly. The muscles and tissues around the belly button are repaired, and the cut is closed with stitches.
Usually there is only a small scar, but if the hernia is very large, the belly button may not look normal. Most of the time, a surgeon can fix this. This surgery has few risks. A synthetic patch or mesh may be used to repair your hernia. Patch use is becoming widespread in repairing hernias in adults. A patch may strengthen your abdominal wall, reduce your discomfort after surgery, and reduce the chance that your hernia repair will have to be done again. It can take up to 4 weeks after open hernia surgery before you can begin normal strenuous activities.
If you have laparoscopic surgery, you may recover sooner. Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or truss for a hernia. These devices aren't recommended for treating hernias and sometimes can do more harm than good. There may be certain cases when your doctor thinks a truss would work, but these are rare. Your hernia may get worse, but it may not. Over time, hernias tend to get bigger as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue bulges through.
But some small, painless hernias never need repair. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I'm pregnant, and I have a small hernia that doesn't hurt. I've talked with my doctor about it, and she said I could have surgery as long as I have an epidural and not general anesthesia. But she said it may be best to wait until I'm done having kids.
There's a risk I could get another hernia when I get pregnant again. So as long as my hernia doesn't get worse, I'll wait. I've had a hernia for a few years now. My doctor said it may have happened because I lost a lot of weight and my stomach muscles were weak.
So I started exercising to try to get stronger, and I feel great. The hernia hasn't ever really bothered me, except for how it looks. So I don't feel like it's worth having surgery now. I've had a small umbilical hernia for several years but have basically ignored it. I'm not a big believer in letting people cut on my body, so I wanted to avoid surgery at all costs. But the hernia is really starting to bug me now, and it's gotten bigger and it looks weird.
So I've got an appointment to talk to my doctor about surgery. I'm a nurse, and sometimes I have to lift patients and other heavy things. One day, after helping a patient transfer into a wheelchair, I felt something weird in my abdomen. Later, I noticed a bulge in my belly button. My doctor said it may have happened because I've gained quite a bit of weight lately.
I've decided to go ahead and have it fixed since it's kind of painful and it could be a problem with my work.
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
My hernia is keeping me from doing daily activities or from returning to work. I want to have the hernia repaired while my insurance or worker's compensation will help cover the costs. I will be traveling to an area where health care may not be available, so I want to take care of this now.
I have no plans to travel to places where health care may not be available. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. One reason for me to have surgery for my umbilical hernia is to prevent a rare but serious problem called strangulation.
I need surgery even though my hernia is small and doesn't bother me. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Umbilical hernias that appear during adulthood are more likely to need surgical repair.
In babies who have an umbilical hernia, the bulge may be visible only when they cry, cough or strain. Umbilical hernias that appear during adulthood may cause abdominal discomfort. If you suspect that your baby has an umbilical hernia, talk with the baby's doctor. Seek emergency care if your baby has an umbilical hernia and:.
Similar guidelines apply to adults. Talk with your doctor if you have a bulge near your navel. Seek emergency care if the bulge becomes painful or tender. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications.
During gestation, the umbilical cord passes through a small opening in the baby's abdominal muscles. The opening normally closes just after birth.
If the muscles don't join together completely in the midline of the abdominal wall, an umbilical hernia may appear at birth or later in life. In adults, too much abdominal pressure contributes to umbilical hernias. Causes of increased pressure in the abdomen include:. Umbilical hernias are most common in infants — especially premature babies and those with low birth weights. In the United States, black infants appear to have a slightly increased risk of umbilical hernias.
The condition affects boys and girls equally. For adults, being overweight or having multiple pregnancies may increase the risk of developing an umbilical hernia. This type of hernia tends to be more common in women. For children, complications of an umbilical hernia are rare. Complications can occur when the protruding abdominal tissue becomes trapped incarcerated and can no longer be pushed back into the abdominal cavity.
This reduces the blood supply to the section of trapped intestine and can lead to abdominal pain and tissue damage. If the trapped portion of intestine is completely cut off from the blood supply, it can lead to tissue death.
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