An umbilical hernia – ie the visible, soft swelling in the navel – is quite common in babies. He is usually harmless and usually heals by himself. Everything important to the umbilical hernia in the baby read here.
Umbilical hernia – baby: description
The umbilical hernia in babies is a visible, soft swelling in the navel area. He usually comes out when screaming or pressing and can be pushed back by the doctor. About 20 percent of babies have an umbilical hernia. In premature babies with a birth weight below 1500 grams even two-thirds are affected, girls rather than boys.
Umbilical hernia – baby: cause
The umbilical hernia in a baby can have two causes. In the congenital form, the natural (physiological) umbilical hernia that develops during the development of the embryo is preserved. In the acquired form, the umbilical hernia develops, even before a navel scar can form, due to increased pressure in the abdomen.
Physiological and congenital umbilical hernia
During the development of the baby in the womb a natural (physiological) umbilical hernia develops. The child’s intestine expands into the umbilical cord from the 32nd day of pregnancy and forms a navel loop. This grows, turns and continues to expand. Finally, it is forced out of the abdominal cavity. The physiological umbilical hernia persists until about the ninth week of pregnancy and then forms back. If not, the baby is born with the umbilical hernia. That’s an innate umbilical hernia.
Acquired umbilical hernia
After birth, the umbilical cord is formed after removal of the umbilical cord: The umbilical ring – the original point of passage of the umbilical cord (or its vessels) – scarred. If this does not happen, doctors speak of an acquired umbilical hernia. Through the gap in the abdominal wall, parts of the abdominal organs such as small intestine or large intestine loops can be pushed outward. In most cases, the umbilical hernia affects premature babies with lung infections, which increase the pressure in the abdominal cavity due to frequent coughing or crying. In addition, the acquired umbilical hernia often occurs in connection with metabolic diseases such as mucopolysaccharidoses or hypothyroidism and certain genetic diseases (trisomies).
In a particularly severe malformation of the abdominal wall (omphalocele), the bowel loops are visible and lie within the umbilical cord (umbilical cord). The intestinal loops do not return to the abdomen. The umbilical hernia, in contrast to the omphalocele, is always covered with skin.
Umbilical hernia – baby: symptoms
The umbilical hernia the doctor recognizes at the protrusion of the navel, the existing gap he can feel good. An umbilical hernia with a diameter of up to 1.5 centimeters causes little discomfort. Rarely, organ parts are trapped in the fracture gap, such as a bowel loop. This causes severe pain and often vomiting.
Attention: A pinched umbilical hernia is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention – it can be life-threatening!
Umbilical hernia – baby: treatment
An umbilical hernia in the baby is usually harmless, but affected parents should visit a pediatrician with the child. If the umbilical hernia causes no symptoms, the doctor will initially push him back, which is usually possible without any problems. In most cases, the umbilical hernia develops with increasing strength of the circular musculature and does not require surgery.
Umbilical hernia surgery
If the diameter of the umbilical hernia is more than one centimeter or the symptoms increase, the doctor may recommend surgery, usually in the second year of life. In large umbilical hernias, the overlying skin is often very thin and vulnerable. In such cases surgery can already be performed in the first half of the year.
Umbilical hernia – baby: prognosis
Occurs when the umbilical hernia in infancy, he usually closes by the second year of life itself. The parents should first wait. From the second to third year of life, the umbilical hernia rarely closes on its own. Before entering the school should therefore also a small umbilical hernia be operated on in any case.