Umbilical Hernia: Should My Child Have Surgery?
Umbilical Hernia: Should My Child Have Surgery?Skip to the navigationYou may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Umbilical Hernia: Should My Child Have Surgery?Get the factsYour options- Schedule surgery to fix the hernia.
- Wait and see if the hernia closes on its own.
Key points to remember- There is a good chance that your child's
umbilical hernia will close on its own. Most of the
time, a hernia that starts before 6 months of age will go away by 1 year of
age.footnote 1
- Your child may need surgery if the
hernia is very large or if a hernia of any size has not gone away by age 5.
- You may choose to have surgery for personal reasons. If the hernia
looks odd or bothers your child, it can be fixed with surgery before age 5.
- Umbilical hernias usually do not cause a health problem. Rare problems include part of the
intestine getting trapped in the hernia sac.
FAQs An umbilical hernia
is a bulge near the belly button, or navel. The hernia has a sac that may hold
some intestine, fat, or fluid. These tissues may bulge through an opening or a
weak spot in the stomach muscles. This weak spot forms when muscle and other
tissue around the
umbilical cord do not close properly. About 1 or 2 babies out of 10 have an umbilical hernia.footnote 2 It mostly occurs in babies who have a low birth weight and those who were born early.
Most of the
time, a hernia that starts before 6 months of age will go away by 1 year of
age. But some children get or still have an umbilical hernia when they are infants or toddlers. Umbilical
hernias almost always close on their own as a child grows. But sometimes
surgery is needed. A hernia doesn't hurt. A hernia poses no risks except if rare
problems occur, such as part of the
intestine getting trapped in the hernia sac (incarcerated hernia).
During the surgery, the doctor makes a small cut, or incision, just below the
navel. Any tissue that bulges into the hernia sac is pushed back inside the
belly. The muscles and tissues around the navel are repaired, and the cut is
closed with stitches. Usually there is only a small scar inside the
navel. This surgery has few risks. Children who have
surgery to repair a very large hernia may end up with a navel that doesn't look
normal. But most of the time, a surgeon can fix this. Most
umbilical hernias heal on their own, but your doctor may recommend surgery if: - Your child's hernia is very large. Hernias that measure
0.6 in. (2 cm) wide or
larger are
less likely to close on their own.footnote 1
- The
hernia starts after 6 months of age or gets much bigger after 1 to 2 years of
age.footnote 1
- Your child has pain, a swollen belly, or other signs of a rare but major problem called incarcerated hernia. This can occur when the
intestine gets trapped in the hernia sac and loses its blood supply.
- The hernia hasn't
closed by the time your child is 5 years of age. If a hernia has not closed on
its own by this age, it probably won't.
- The hernia bothers you or
your child. Some umbilical hernias have an extra skin flap over them. These
hernias look odd and are more visible than other kinds of umbilical
hernias.
Compare your options | |
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What is usually involved? |
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What are the benefits? |
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What are the risks and side effects? |
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Have surgery Have surgery - Your child will have
general anesthesia and go home on the same day as the
surgery.
- The cut will leave a small scar inside the belly button.
- Your child will need
over-the-counter pain medicine for a few
days.
- You will need to keep the surgery site clean and
dry.
- Your child will need follow-up visits with the doctor to check
that the wound is healing.
- Surgery fixes a hernia that is
not closing on its own.
- Your child avoids rare problems, such as part of the intestine getting trapped in the hernia.
- All surgery has
risks, including infection, bleeding, and risks linked to the use of anesthesia.
- Rare problems linked to hernia surgery include:
- Swelling from a buildup of fluid near the
incision.
- Blood clots.
- A hernia that comes
back.
- An injury to part of the intestine.
Wait and see if hernia
heals on its own Wait and see if hernia
heals on its own - Your child will need follow-up
visits with the doctor to see if the hernia is closing on its own.
- You watch your child for signs of
problems related to the hernia, such as vomiting, pain, or a swollen belly.
- The hernia may close on its
own.
- Your child avoids the risk of surgery.
- You avoid the cost of surgery your child may not need.
- There is a rare risk
that part of the intestine will get trapped in the
hernia.
- Your child may still need surgery if the hernia does not heal on
its own.
My baby was
born with an umbilical hernia that really wasn't too noticeable most of the
time. My doctor suggested waiting to see if it would go away on its own-and it
did. By the time Ross was 9 months of age, the hernia was gone. I'm glad we
didn't try surgery on such a little baby. I would have felt terrible putting
him through that when it just went away on its own. Sierra, my
little girl, developed a large umbilical hernia around her first birthday. It
was really horrible to look at and scared her sometimes. Plus, she'd fiddle
with it and scratch it in her sleep. We waited a little while to see if it
would get better, but before her second birthday, we decided to have it
surgically repaired. It was really hard to do it, but I'm glad we did. She
looks perfect and we don't have to worry about it anymore. My son,
Johnny, had an umbilical hernia that we noticed shortly after his umbilical
cord stump fell off. It made us concerned, but we decided that if the
doctor wasn't too worried about it yet, we wouldn't be either. It didn't change
much over the next 2 years, but then finally went away. Since it didn't bother
any of us very much, it wasn't hard to try the "wait and see" approach.
My daughter was born with really big
bulging skin around her belly button. It was awful-looking. It scared me to
even touch it. My wife and I decided there was no way we could wait 4 to 5
years to see if it would go away. When she got a little bigger and stronger, we
asked if she could have surgery. She had it and looks great now. I'm glad
that's over and she looks like a normal baby again. What matters most to you?
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.
Reasons to choose surgery Reasons to wait and see if the hernia closes on its own The way the hernia looks bothers me. I don't mind the way the hernia looks. More important Equally important More important I want to take care of the problem now. I don't mind waiting to see if surgery is really needed. More important Equally important More important It's okay if my child is given general anesthesia. I don't want my child to have general anesthesia. More important Equally important More important I know that surgery has risks, but I think the benefits are worth it. I don't want my child to have surgery. More important Equally important More important I'm worried about the risks of having a hernia. I'm not worried about the risks of having a hernia. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important Where are you leaning now?
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.
Surgery Leaning toward waiting Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward What else do you need to make your decision?1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure Your SummaryHere's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Next stepsWhich way you're leaningHow sure you areYour commentsKey concepts that you understoodKey concepts that may need reviewCredits | Author | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Brad W. Warner, MD - Pediatric Surgery |
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References Citations - Carlo WA (2011). The umbilicus. In RM Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed., Online chapter 99. Philadelphia: Saunders. Available online: http://www.expertconsultbook.com.
- Snyder CL (2007). Current management of umbilical abnormalities and related anomalies. Seminars in Pediatric Surgery, 16(1): 41-49.
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Umbilical Hernia: Should My Child Have Surgery?Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. - Get the facts
- Compare your options
- What matters most to you?
- Where are you leaning now?
- What else do you need to make your decision?
1. Get the FactsYour options- Schedule surgery to fix the hernia.
- Wait and see if the hernia closes on its own.
Key points to remember- There is a good chance that your child's
umbilical hernia will close on its own. Most of the
time, a hernia that starts before 6 months of age will go away by 1 year of
age.1
- Your child may need surgery if the
hernia is very large or if a hernia of any size has not gone away by age 5.
- You may choose to have surgery for personal reasons. If the hernia
looks odd or bothers your child, it can be fixed with surgery before age 5.
- Umbilical hernias usually do not cause a health problem. Rare problems include part of the
intestine getting trapped in the hernia sac.
FAQs What is an umbilical hernia?An umbilical hernia
is a bulge near the belly button, or navel. The hernia has a sac that may hold
some intestine, fat, or fluid. These tissues may bulge through an opening or a
weak spot in the stomach muscles. This weak spot forms when muscle and other
tissue around the
umbilical cord do not close properly. About 1 or 2 babies out of 10 have an umbilical hernia.2 It mostly occurs in babies who have a low birth weight and those who were born early.
Most of the
time, a hernia that starts before 6 months of age will go away by 1 year of
age. But some children get or still have an umbilical hernia when they are infants or toddlers. Umbilical
hernias almost always close on their own as a child grows. But sometimes
surgery is needed. A hernia doesn't hurt. A hernia poses no risks except if rare
problems occur, such as part of the
intestine getting trapped in the hernia sac (incarcerated hernia). What happens in surgery for an umbilical hernia?
During the surgery, the doctor makes a small cut, or incision, just below the
navel. Any tissue that bulges into the hernia sac is pushed back inside the
belly. The muscles and tissues around the navel are repaired, and the cut is
closed with stitches. Usually there is only a small scar inside the
navel. This surgery has few risks. Children who have
surgery to repair a very large hernia may end up with a navel that doesn't look
normal. But most of the time, a surgeon can fix this. Why might your doctor recommend surgery?Most
umbilical hernias heal on their own, but your doctor may recommend surgery if: - Your child's hernia is very large. Hernias that measure
0.6 in. (2 cm) wide or
larger are
less likely to close on their own.1
- The
hernia starts after 6 months of age or gets much bigger after 1 to 2 years of
age.1
- Your child has pain, a swollen belly, or other signs of a rare but major problem called incarcerated hernia. This can occur when the
intestine gets trapped in the hernia sac and loses its blood supply.
- The hernia hasn't
closed by the time your child is 5 years of age. If a hernia has not closed on
its own by this age, it probably won't.
- The hernia bothers you or
your child. Some umbilical hernias have an extra skin flap over them. These
hernias look odd and are more visible than other kinds of umbilical
hernias.
2. Compare your options| | Have surgery | Wait and see if hernia
heals on its own |
|---|
| What is usually involved? | - Your child will have
general anesthesia and go home on the same day as the
surgery.
- The cut will leave a small scar inside the belly button.
- Your child will need
over-the-counter pain medicine for a few
days.
- You will need to keep the surgery site clean and
dry.
- Your child will need follow-up visits with the doctor to check
that the wound is healing.
| - Your child will need follow-up
visits with the doctor to see if the hernia is closing on its own.
- You watch your child for signs of
problems related to the hernia, such as vomiting, pain, or a swollen belly.
|
|---|
| What are the benefits? | - Surgery fixes a hernia that is
not closing on its own.
- Your child avoids rare problems, such as part of the intestine getting trapped in the hernia.
| - The hernia may close on its
own.
- Your child avoids the risk of surgery.
- You avoid the cost of surgery your child may not need.
|
|---|
| What are the risks and side effects? | - All surgery has
risks, including infection, bleeding, and risks linked to the use of anesthesia.
- Rare problems linked to hernia surgery include:
- Swelling from a buildup of fluid near the
incision.
- Blood clots.
- A hernia that comes
back.
- An injury to part of the intestine.
| - There is a rare risk
that part of the intestine will get trapped in the
hernia.
- Your child may still need surgery if the hernia does not heal on
its own.
|
|---|
Personal storiesPersonal stories about surgery for an umbilical hernia
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
"My baby was born with an umbilical hernia that really wasn't too noticeable most of the time. My doctor suggested waiting to see if it would go away on its own-and it did. By the time Ross was 9 months of age, the hernia was gone. I'm glad we didn't try surgery on such a little baby. I would have felt terrible putting him through that when it just went away on its own." "Sierra, my little girl, developed a large umbilical hernia around her first birthday. It was really horrible to look at and scared her sometimes. Plus, she'd fiddle with it and scratch it in her sleep. We waited a little while to see if it would get better, but before her second birthday, we decided to have it surgically repaired. It was really hard to do it, but I'm glad we did. She looks perfect and we don't have to worry about it anymore." "My son, Johnny, had an umbilical hernia that we noticed shortly after his umbilical cord stump fell off. It made us concerned, but we decided that if the doctor wasn't too worried about it yet, we wouldn't be either. It didn't change much over the next 2 years, but then finally went away. Since it didn't bother any of us very much, it wasn't hard to try the "wait and see" approach." "My daughter was born with really big bulging skin around her belly button. It was awful-looking. It scared me to even touch it. My wife and I decided there was no way we could wait 4 to 5 years to see if it would go away. When she got a little bigger and stronger, we asked if she could have surgery. She had it and looks great now. I'm glad that's over and she looks like a normal baby again." 3. What matters most to you?
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.
Reasons to choose surgery Reasons to wait and see if the hernia closes on its own The way the hernia looks bothers me. I don't mind the way the hernia looks. More important Equally important More important I want to take care of the problem now. I don't mind waiting to see if surgery is really needed. More important Equally important More important It's okay if my child is given general anesthesia. I don't want my child to have general anesthesia. More important Equally important More important I know that surgery has risks, but I think the benefits are worth it. I don't want my child to have surgery. More important Equally important More important I'm worried about the risks of having a hernia. I'm not worried about the risks of having a hernia. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important 4. Where are you leaning now?
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.
Surgery Leaning toward waiting Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward 5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
1.
Do most umbilical hernias close on their own? You're right. There's a good chance that your child's umbilical hernia will close on its own. Most of the time, a hernia that starts before 6 months of age will go away by 1 year of age. 2.
Are there any risks to having an umbilical hernia? You're right. There are some rare risks, such as part of the intestine getting trapped in the hernia sac. 3.
Are there some kinds of hernias that require surgery? You are right. Your child may need surgery if the hernia is very large or if a hernia of any size has not gone away by age 5. Decide what's next1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Credits | By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Brad W. Warner, MD - Pediatric Surgery |
|---|
References Citations - Carlo WA (2011). The umbilicus. In RM Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed., Online chapter 99. Philadelphia: Saunders. Available online: http://www.expertconsultbook.com.
- Snyder CL (2007). Current management of umbilical abnormalities and related anomalies. Seminars in Pediatric Surgery, 16(1): 41-49.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.Current as of:
May 4, 2017 Carlo WA (2011). The umbilicus. In RM Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed., Online chapter 99. Philadelphia: Saunders. Available online: http://www.expertconsultbook.com. Snyder CL (2007). Current management of umbilical abnormalities and related anomalies. Seminars in Pediatric Surgery, 16(1): 41-49. Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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