Anyone have experience of umbilical hernia?

[BiscuitMillionaire]

DD is just 6 and having first appointment with paediatrician tomorrow. GP noticed it a couple of years ago but said to wait and see if it got better. It hasn't and current GP thinks the paed will recommend surgery. Obviously I've looked at the NHS website, which says it's under GA but home the same day. How was your child's experience? How long to recover? How long off school?
TIA

[BiscuitMillionaire]

bump?

[khm1998]

watching with interest. DD2 (2.5) also has this, postponed op once before in case it improved on its own - no change, although it's not getting worse either. I know we'll have to bite the bullet and have it done sooner rather than later so she doesn't have lasting memories of the procedure and her hospital stay.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

Your DD is still young though, khm, I thought the standard advice was wait and see until about age 5.

[BigWellyLittleWelly]

My dd has a severe one which will require surgery at 5. A friends son had his done last year at 6, 3 days off school and no pe or gymnastics fir something like four weeks, I saw him the afternoon after surgery in the morning and he was a bit pale and quiet, unsettled at night for a week but perked up and appetite back within 48 hours.

Has to be said its been done beautifully - hes well impressed with his designer belly button!

[BiscuitMillionaire]

Thanks BigWelly, that's encouraging. It might be difficult to stop my DD doing handstands and wrestling with her brother, though!

[khm1998]

Our surgeon never said we had to wait until she was 5, but now that you mentioned it, will ask at her next appt.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

I think they normally wait because sometimes it closes up by itself.

[ilovesmarties]

My son is coming up for 3 and has a severe umbilical hernia. We see his surgical team (had major surgeries as a baby) every 6 months and they said they will not repair this until he is 5. They have agreed that in his case it is unlikely that it will dissapear and but we still have to wait until then.