What should I do about my baby's umbilical hernia?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 14, 2024
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If your baby has an umbilical hernia, there is no need to panic. Generally speaking, this hernia occurs because the area around the baby's navel is not fully developed, leading to the hernia. It usually becomes more noticeable after crying - clearly protruding, but it can retract after resting. Typically, between one to two years old, the hernia may resolve by itself, so there's no need for special treatment. If you feel compelled to do something, you can buy a belt at a maternity and baby store and place a coin or another hard, flat object beneath it to press down on the navel, which can help the hernia repair sooner. However, if the hernia is large and still protrudes noticeably after the age of two, surgical intervention might be necessary.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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Does adult umbilical hernia affect the body?

Adult umbilical hernias definitely impact the body, as they primarily involve abdominal contents protruding through a weak area of the abdominal wall at the navel, which can easily lead to hernia incarceration. This causes compression of the intestinal tract, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation that are difficult to alleviate, as well as abdominal wall pain and localized inflammatory reactions. Such cases generally require surgical treatment. In early stages of an umbilical hernia, there is concern for gradual expansion of the hernia ring, which warrants early intervention, possibly involving padding and bandaging the weak spot in the abdominal wall to prevent the protrusion of abdominal contents. If the umbilical hernia frequently protrudes, it is necessary to consider surgery as soon as possible.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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Will infant umbilical hernia gradually improve?

Umbilical hernias in infants are very likely to heal naturally, as more than 80% of infantile umbilical hernias will gradually reduce in size and possibly even close as the child grows older and their physique develops. Normally, it is only necessary to ensure that the child does not cry intensely for long periods, to promptly treat any digestive system disorders in the child to prevent increased abdominal pressure which can cause frequent protrusion of the hernia and affect its healing. Only a small portion of children require surgical treatment, usually those with a relatively large hernia ring diameter, especially those larger than 2 cm, and children over two years old who still have a very obvious umbilical hernia.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Can umbilical hernia be treated with moxibustion?

Umbilical hernia is fundamentally a surgical condition. The effectiveness of moxibustion in treating umbilical hernia is generally not very clear, and currently, there is no scientific basis to prove that moxibustion can cure umbilical hernia. Typically, umbilical hernias occur when the umbilical ring does not completely close. In children under six months, a conservative treatment approach is usually chosen. This can involve using a coin or cardboard larger than the umbilical ring, wrapping it to press against the ring, and securing it with adhesive tape to prevent movement. Most patients under six months old can heal naturally. For umbilical hernias, if the child is over two years old and the umbilical ring is still larger than 1.5 cm, surgical treatment is recommended. Moxibustion treatment does not offer significant benefits in the treatment of umbilical hernias. Therefore, as umbilical hernia is a surgical condition, it is advised that patients undergo surgery if their condition permits.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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Why can't you cry with an umbilical hernia?

In children with umbilical hernia, crying can easily lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. As the intra-abdominal pressure increases, gas in the intestines and mesentery can easily protrude through the unclosed umbilical ring, thereby exacerbating the symptoms of the umbilical hernia. In severe cases, this could lead to serious complications such as incarceration of the hernia. Therefore, in addition to not crying, children with an umbilical hernia should also avoid constipation, coughing, and vigorous activities that could increase intra-abdominal pressure, in order to prevent worsening of the hernia symptoms. In daily life, their diet should be light and easy to digest.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What should I do about an umbilical hernia?

Umbilical hernia is a type of hernia, mainly caused by poor development of the navel area and a relatively weak abdominal wall at the navel. It occurs when the intestines protrude through the belly button towards the surface of the body due to increased intra-abdominal pressure. The main treatments are as follows: if the infant or toddler is under two years old and the hernia is relatively small, it can be observed conservatively or it might close on its own. If the child is older than two years and the hernia is larger, surgical repair may be necessary. For adults with an umbilical hernia, surgical repair is generally the best treatment method.