Umbilical Hernia?

I just got off the phone with the baby's Dr. I explained to him that my DS's belly button is completely out! He is telling me there is nothing for me to be concerened about.. it may go back in on it's own and that it's not from crying to hard.

anyone else experience this with their baby?
I am thinking I should get another Dr. bc. quite honestly, he had an attitude like I was bothering him with my concern.

He said hed take a look at it at his 2 mos check up in a couple of weeks..

I wanted to add that it didn't start out like this.. it became bigger and more extended as the weeks went by! He is only 7 weeks old.

Message edited 12/15/2011 2:59:15 PM.

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

My DS was born with a perfect belly button, but by 2 months old, he had this huge bulbous belly button that was literally the size of a small fruit! It was squishy when I pressed it in, so that was a good sign. It was an umbilical hernia and they are not normally concerned about it unless they have it past a year old, in which case you would visit a surgeon for a consultation and further info.

If it doesn't press in easily or baby cries when you press it, I would take him to the Ped for sure.

My DS's went down on it's own before a year old. I think before 10 months it was gone.

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

It's really common.

It's the cause of "outy" belly buttons.

You should call another MD to put your fears at bay... but even just googling it... I got this:

- Common surgical problem of newborn infants
- Present in 10% caucasian babies
- Seen in 90% of babies of Afro-Caribbean descent
- Incidence is increased
Low birth weight
Down's syndrome
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
-Hernia is usually symptomless
- Strangulation is extremely rare
- 95% spontaneously close by 2 years of age
- Surgical repair only needs to be considered if present beyond this age


http://www.newborn-babycare.com/Umbilical-Hernia.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/umbilical-hernia/DS00655

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

My DS's belly button just stuck out a little but I remember my ped talking about it being a hernia but it went away after a couple months!

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

I had a similar situation...it was the start of many reasons why I left my original pediatrician. If I had a legit question, I didn't want to be made to feel like I was bothering him. My ds also had a hernia (and his belly button is pretty much normal now - at 3).

If you are not happy...its better to cut your loses earlier!

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

My DS had a rather large umbilical hernia, it's pretty common, but as a new parent you should be able to feel comfortable asking your ped anything. Most hernias get smaller as your DC get older, very rarely do they need to be repaired. Like I said, my DS's was very very large and it is gotten so much better. It also wasn't noticeable when he was born, by 1-2 months we definitely saw it. Hth!

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

My son had one as well. It came out about 1 month old, and took a couple of months to go back down. I FREAKED out, but my ped. was awesome about it and made me feel so much better. Just like other posters said, if you push it back in and it doesn't cause the child to cry, you should be fine. It just takes time.
I'm sorry you got such an attitude from your dr. You should not stand for that!

Re: Umbilical Hernia?

My DD has a very slight one. I didn't really notice it until she was about 9 mos old and the ped at all of our visits never mentioned it. One visit I asked about it and he pretty much dismissed all my concerns and said not to worry about it that was slight and would likely resolve itself by 5. DD is 22 mo old now and it is the same as it was then - no worse but, also, no better. Ped wasn't concerned still.