A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall.
An umbilical hernia appears as a lump near the navel (bellybutton) that may get bigger when your child laughs, coughs, cries or goes to the toilet. It may shrink when your child is relaxed or lying down.
Umbilical hernias are very common and affect 10% of infants and young children. They are especially common in babies who are born prematurely.
An umbilical hernia is not painful. In 85% of cases, the umbilical hernia goes back in and the muscles reseal before the child's first birthday.
What causes an umbilical hernia?
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord passes through an opening in the baby's abdominal wall. This opening should close before birth, but in some cases the muscles do not seal completely.
This leaves a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall (abdominal wall). An umbilical hernia can develop when fatty tissue or a part of the bowel pokes through into an area near the navel.
Occasionally, an umbilical hernia can develop in adults. The following factors make this more likely to happen:
- being overweight
- lifting heavy objects
- having a persistent cough
- having a multiple pregnancy
These pages focus on umbilical hernia repair in children. For information on other types of hernia, see:
Umbilical hernia treatment
If the umbilical hernia is large or has not disappeared by the time the child reaches four years old, you may consider an umbilical hernia repair.
Your surgeon will usually advise you to wait for your child to reach this age before considering an operation as it is not an essential procedure unless there are complications.
In less than 1% of cases, the bit of bowel can get stuck outside the abdomen. This can cause pain and vomiting, and could damage your child's bowel. In these cases, immediate surgery will be recommended to prevent bowel damage.
Repairing the umbilical hernia
An umbilical hernia repair is a routine and simple procedure to push the bulge back into place and strengthen the abdominal wall. General anaesthetic will be used so that your child does not feel any pain during the operation, which should take about 30 minutes.
The weak spot is usually closed with stitches, but if the hernia is large, mesh may be used to strengthen the area. After the operation, the bulge will disappear and the belly button should look normal.
Read more about how an umbilical hernia repair is performed.
When recovering from an umbilical hernia repair, your child should be able to go home the same day but may feel a bit sore and uncomfortable. They will need to limit their activity for a few days and take time off school. Young children may be a bit tearful and sleepy, but this is normal.
Are there any risks?
Complications from an umbilical hernia repair are rare but can include:
- the wound becoming infected and needing antibiotics
- the hernia returning
- feeling sick, a headache or numbness in the legs a few hours after the operation
If the hernia was large, some excess skin may remain after the operation, but this will usually settle as your child grows up.
