Anyone have a preemie with an umbical hernia?

Aisha - posted on 09/22/2009

My son was 3 months early and had an umbilical hernia. We would laugh and say he had a torpedo on his belly. The doctors all said it should go away by his 1 birthday but some last until they are 5 years old. Ben's went away before he was 1. He is an outie but looks like a normal outie! If the doctor feels it and it goes in like it should when pushing on it than I would say don't worry. But Im just going on my situation. Hope all goes well! :)

Jennifer - posted on 09/20/2009

My baby also has an umbilical hernia... Her pediatrician told me to push it in and see if she cries, when she's quiet, if not then it's not hurting her. She also told me that as she gets older and her stomach muscles get stronger it will go in on it's own. Hope this helped!

Debbie - posted on 09/19/2009

my wee girl had one & it went away by itself when she was around 1yr old

Louise - posted on 09/15/2009

Hi, my little boy had an umbiblical hernia (he just turned 4). It diden't seem to be a major problem for him and it was never operated on. His belly button is an outtie now but otherwise fine. I found he cried all the time in his first year but it seemed to be reflux and just one sickness after the other, saying that i'm sure the hernia was very uncomfortable.

Stacie - posted on 09/14/2009

My daughter has an umbilical hernia, it was very large when we brought her home but it has shrunk significantly over the past 9 months. The doctor said they wait at least a year or two and it should go away on its own. He said as long as you can push it back in there is nothing to be concerned about. I just have him check it at each appointment.

Cindy - posted on 09/14/2009

My son had an umbilical hernia and two inguinal hernias. The umbilical hernia went away when he started becoming more mobile and his abdomen got stronger. The inguinal hernias required surgery.

Alda - posted on 09/01/2009

My twins were born 12 weeks early and my one little girl had a HUGE umbilical hernia - the peadiatricians said it's the biggest one they've ever seen. She was quite a screamer as well and we were very concerned about the hernia. When the surgeon who did my other daughter's ileostomy reviewed her we asked him to check the hernia. He was not at all concerned and said he would only operate when she was three years old anyway if it hadn't gone away by itself. The day after that the hernia was half the size and within 3 weeks it was gone. She has loads of loose skin now, but even that's improving every month.

Megan - posted on 08/31/2009

Emily,

My son had a very large umbilical hernea. Very long story he had surgery at 4 months of age 2 adjusted but he did not have that repaired. I was told by my Dr. to try every day to reduce it...push on it to make sure it was still able to go inside until the hole in the muscle wall closes. I was then told by my aunt, a neo-natal nurse for over 25yrs., to reduce it then tape it a penny and cotton ball over it to keep it in there so it would stay in while it healed. Because if the hole in the muscle wall became too small while the hernea was protruding it could pinch off part of his bowel and cause damage and lots of pain. Anyway my son's hernea did heal, with following my aunt's advice. He does still have a large skin tag there which can be removed if it bothers him when he gets older. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Megan.

Tiffany - posted on 08/30/2009

My son was born 10 weeks early and had an umbilical hernia that didn't really appear until he got home. I believe it is because once they get home they put on weight so quickly that the lining of the stomach wall is so thin due to prematurity that it just causes a small hernia. My son's got pretty large and then one day when he was about 5 months old it just started healing up and about two weeks it was completely healed. My son's doctors just told me to give it time and if by the time he was two and if it hadnt healed, they might would fix it.

Natasha - posted on 08/26/2009

my little boy is 4months old and has a umbilical hernia. He was a month early and such a screamer up untill 3months. It has gone down drastically in the last month. The doctors did say it would shrink as his abdomen grows and i didnt beleive them because it was so big but it has. Its still there but improving. My doctor see's us every 2months to check it, He did say if it didnt shrink they would operate though.

Erin - posted on 08/26/2009

My son still has his hernia from birth. It seems to be getting smaller. Most doctors/ surgeons suggest that if it isn't uncomfortable of the child then wait for about a year to two years (which I don't really agree with). If you feel your daughter's hernia is causing her pain or feelings of discomfort speak to her doctor or a pediatric surgeon and see what they suggest.

Arlene - posted on 08/24/2009

my premmie baby had an umbilical hernia, ugly lookin thing popped out abt at least 1cm, prob had it abt 2mths early on when he was abt 4mths was 2mths early, no cause 4 concern, eventually it goes away on its own, just left it alone that was the docs advice!

Tammy - posted on 08/23/2009

my little girl has one she is now 8 weeks old & the doctor told me it should go away by its self b4 she turns 1

Alexis - posted on 08/17/2009

If it is a cause of pain they can operate as soon as you want them to. But usually if it is a cause of pain it will have started to get darker. If it is hard when the baby is not flexing her stomach muscles, or discolored at all then it is time to go to the doctor. If it is still soft (unless flexing) then it is fine. About ninety percent of the time it will correct itself by age one (corrected age). But talk to your doctor if you are concerned. My baby had one and she is fine now, it went away on its own, and it had gotten huge, stuck out at least an inch and a half.

Melissa - posted on 08/16/2009

my daughter had one and it healed on its own

Angie - posted on 08/14/2009

My baby girl was 2 1/2 months early and she had an umbilical hernia and the doctors kept telling me it would most likely subside on its own...she is now 14 months and they were right. Unless it does not easily push in when you push on her belly button there is no reason for concern.

Kristie - posted on 08/14/2009

I tried to post a reply twice yesterday and it just wouldn't load, so let's try this again. My son had an umbilical hernia. When he would cry it would grow to be the size of a golf ball. Your pediatrician should have showed you how to gently press on it to make sure it recedes. You should check it once a day and if it doesn't go back in or if it is difficult it could be a sign that the intestine is twisted, which can cause pain and a lot of crying. Because you have concerns, definitely call the doctor, but remember that most umbilical hernias do correct themselves with time. Inguinal hernias are pretty common too, especially in preemies and they are the ones that need to be surgically repaired. My son had both kinds. His umbilical one went away by the time he was a year old. He did have a flap of skin for a belly button for a long time. t the age of 5 he still has it, but not as bad and I assume it will continue to flatten out as he grows, although he will probably always have an "outie".

Elizabeth - posted on 08/13/2009

My preemie had to have part of her large intestine removed from complications of an infection and now has a colostomy. She developed a hernia around her colostomy site and the surgeon told me that he will fix it when he reverses her colostomy. I am pretty sure that hernias need to be corrected surgically. Did you talk to your doctor?