Advice please on umbilical hernia

[chickster]

My DD (9 months) has developed an umbilical hernia after being poorly for some time. She has coughed and cried so much that the hernia has developed. My HV has confirmed it but didn't really give much advice, and now I'm worrying. Can anyone help and tell me whether I should get the doctor to look at it, and will she need an operation or do these things get better by themselves?

My daughter used to have a small one, it used to look like a little balloon. It would deflate if we pushed it, but reappear again. The gp said it was just a weakness in the muscle there and would go away on it's own in time, which it did.

As long as it pushes back in and your dd is showing no signs of pain, or recurrent bouts of constipation or diarrhoea then it should be fine.

My DS2 had one from about 5 weeks old, which had grown very large by the time he was 9 mths. It would usually push back in but when he had prolonged crying fits it became very distended and blue.

He was referred to the hospital who checked it then and again at 1 yr. He was due to be checked again soon (at 2 yrs) but I cancelled the appointment - as he has grown the hernia has diminished and is now barely noticable. They had said that they would be very unlikely to operate until he was at least 4yrs and only then if it was still large and unsightly.

ds has just developed one at 15 months. Doc said just to leave alone and it will go. Aparently it is only a problem when it is not central on the belly button. We are due to see a ped. at Alex. hosp. in Brighton for other things on 6th June (I think!) and Doc said to mention it when there. I'll let you know what is said.

Repeating all said below!

DS had one from about 1-2 weeks to about months, and in its heyday I thought it was huge. It stuck out about 3cm or so. I never tried to pop it in or out and just sort of ignored it. The midwife, HVs etc all said it would sort itself out - and that nobody would worry about it until he was older.

In your shoes I would probably get a doctor to confirm this to set my mind at rest once and for all, but I would make a 'convenient' appointment rather than an emergency one!

Must must must preview - he had the hernia to about SIX months.