Baby Hernia

[PuffTheMagicDragon1]

Hi there, just looking for someone who has had experience with baby hernias. Recently took DS 14mo to docs to get a rash checked and to look into some tummy pains he's been having. We saw a stand in doctor and as she was looking at his tummy she casually said " oh did you know he has a hernia?"
Of course I panicked as I associate a hernia with a serious problem as it is in adulthood but she blew over it and didn't expand carrying on with checking his rash (eczema) I had to ask what we do about it!

She didn't know...

Rang me later that day to say she looked it up and they won't need to see him about it until he's 3.

Has anyone got any advise on what the process is? I'm worried it's causing him pain/discomfort.

What sort of hernia is it? It makes a difference. If it's an umbilical hernia (through the navel) it will probably sort itself out before he gets to school age. It probably sticks out a bit when he cries? As long as it stays soft and squidgy and goes back in with some gentle pressure, there's nothing to worry about. You do need to get him seen quickly if it ever turns hard or seems to be distressing him.

Groin hernias usually need fixing sooner rather than later. Same rule applies - soft and comfortable, OK. Hard/distressed = get seen urgently.

Thanks Couch, yes it sticks out when he cries or tenses up. I think I may take him to see our regular doctor as I didn't feel that the one we saw was very helpful but she didn't seem concerned by it. Thanks for the advice though I will keep an eye on it.

My son had his hernia repaired at Great Ormond Street at 4 months. He was absolutely fine.

What sort is it? I would definitely speak to somebody who knows more about this. Most do require surgery and the sooner the better (in my experience ). Keep an eye on it, it probably won't get serious but just make sure you're not being fobbed off.

That's the thing halfstar she didn't tell me what sort it was.
She didn't really seem to know anything, she called me later that day to say she looked into it and he should come back when he's 3 to see what they will do. But I will definitely be taking him back so I can get it looked at by someone who knows what they are talking about.

I had an umbilical hernia which I only discovered recently. Don't think it ever caused any problems.

Umbilical hernia (tummy button) = incredibly common, next to never causes a problem, usually sorts itself out nicely by school age. Not something to worry about.

Inguinal hernia (in the crease between the top of the legs and the abdomen) = rather rarer, can cause a problem, usually needs surgery.

If it's the tummy button popping out more when crying/laughing/straining, please don't worry.

My DD1 had an umbilical hernia when she was a baby. The health visitor said that it was the largest she had ever seen and would almost certainly need surgery to repair it. She told me to leave it a while then go back to the doctors but it did disappear by itself and she has had no problems since and she is now 16.

Hopefully seeing another doctor will help you to feel less worried about it.

If it’s in his belly button, highly unlikely it will cause problems and most sort themselves out.

Thanks for the reassurance. It's visible just to the right of his belly button and it's definitely soft. I will take him back to doctors soon.

it sounds minor. DS has a minor one (basically his belly button sticks out too much). It doesn't bother DS so we leave it for now.

My daughter had a hernia that came up at 3 weeks old. It was the size of a mini egg in her groin. She had it operated on in the Children's Hospital the next day as an emergency because it wouldn't go down. She came out the following day and was fine (we weren't - the stress). Then she had it happen on the other side which we were told was common but we could push it back in and they operated on that as a daycare - so went in in the morning and home mid afternoon, she was 16 weeks. No problems since and she's 17 now. Try not to worry it is quite common.