9 week old: 1.5 inch hernia

[m33r]

My 9 week old baby has a hernia which makes his belly button stick out about an inch and a half and has a diameter about the size of a 2p piece. Have spoken to two docs, my HV, my MW and on one very stressful ocassion the paediatric doc at OOH. They all tell me it's fine as long as I can push it in without LO screaming.

I just wondered if anyone else had this and if so how long it took to go away - one doc told me 5 YEARS! I know it isn't doing him harm but it is unsightly, makes gurgle noises and despite 'knowing' it is doing no harm, I still worry that it's getting bigger, going purple, etc etc

Any shred experience much appreciated!

DD's was about the same size. Our fab GP did a referral to the hospital, specialist said it would likely shrink & close up by the time she is 2, and he will see her again then to reassess. If it hasn't closed he said she may want to have a small op to close it up, largely for cosmetic reasons (so she doesnt get teased at school etc). In the mean time we just have to watch it as there is a very small chance it could strangulate (ie bowel could pop out through the hole), he said this is unmistakeable as the belly button goes hard, will not push in, and she would be inconsolable.

As of now, she is 19 months and it has shrunk to about 1.25cm across and protruding about 0.5cm. It doesn't bother her in the least, and we are now waiting to see how much more it will shrink before she is reassessed.

I felt so much better after the initial referral, just to know it was nothing to worry about, and to feel we have a plan. I would push your GP for a referral if I were you. Hope that helps, and try not to worry.

Thank you very much 42. Seeing my GP in 2 weeks to reassess reflux medicine so will do that then x

I think umbilical hernias are usually resolved quite easily. My baby had a different type which did actually strangulate at that age. I'm not sure I could ever live with a hernia of any kind again as a result!

DD had this. We were advised to give her lots of tummy time to strengthen her abdominal muscles; this can often help resolve it.
Many umbilical hernias disappear of their own accord within 3-5 years. Although DD's reduced considerably, it didn't completely disappear and the GP referred her for consultant review aged 3. She had a minor op to fix it when she was 3 1/2. The surgeon said sometimes they leave it a bit longer, but he felt hers wouldn't get any better on its own by this point.

My 6yo Ds had a hernia about ten centimetres up from his belly button & it went away by itself & never caused him any problems .

My 8 week old Ds has quite a noticeable hernia where his belly button is , doesn't cause him any pain , it just looks odd which tbh doesn't bother me in the slightest , GP told me that if he still has it when 6mo then he will refer him to the hospital