Are there any medical implications of an outy belly button in kids?

[yellowflowers]

DD has an outy belly button. It was actually beautiful inny until 3 months old and then she had open surgery on her abdomen (on the side - a kidney op) at thre emonths and straight after it was an outy. I think it is protruding a bit more now than it was but maybe just because she is a chubby toddler with a chubby toddler's belly. Should I be worried at all or is it just what it is - a beautiful outy belly button on my beautiful dd?

It's probably just an outy but you could run it past your GP to check if it's slightly herniated. Even if so they usually heal up on their own. My 20mo has a herniated belly button, but his is slightly above the umbilicus so has to have 6 monthly checks and may need surgery further down the line. Hopefully that's not the case for your DD. Hope she's recovered well from her kidney op.

if its a hernia, and you can feel a gap in the stomach muscles and can push it back in, then there is a risk it could become "strangulated" when the stomach muscles close again and too much of the hernia is stuck between. Just be aware and if there is pain there and you have previously been able to push it back in, but now can't push it back in, then go straight to A&E

DS was born with this, HCPs weren't bothered about it, I just kept an eye, it seems to have closed now without anything being stuck in between

Thanks - should have said she's 18 months now. The idea of me pushing it in turns my stomach a bit though.

Next time we are at GP for any other reason I will ask though - don;t think it's causing her any pain.

Thanks 2nddestiny - op was fine and about 15 months ago now though there have been a couple of others since, but not open surgery.

don't push with any force! just have a feel and see if there is a gap and if it goes between the gap with LIGHT pressure

Sorry for taking a long time to check back. Just wanted to say I was given the same advice that monkeymoma has told you about strangulation. If it turns red or hard and she's in pain, that's a medical emergency. But otherwise it's unlikely to bother her and (if it is a hernia) the likely approach is watch and wait.

Incidentally my DS's can be gently pushed back in - he sometimes does it himself! It also goes back in when he's lying on his back, and looks like a normal flat belly button. It's really ok. But if you are concerned about hurting her then leave it to the GP who will probably gently feel it when they examine her.

Glad to hear she is doing well otherwise.