Bulging navel in babies, can it be repaired?

Do you often see the navel or udel bulging on the baby's stomach? It is a common condition and is usually harmless. The formation of the navel starts from the umbilical cord that is puput, then slowly the bulging navel appears on your little one. Sometimes, the bulging navel will be obvious in newborns, but there are also new ones seen at the age of one year and over. The following is a complete explanation of the bulging navel.

What is a bulging navel in babies?

A bulging navel or umbilical hernia occurs when intestines, fat, or fluids in the body push out through an empty spot or hole in the baby's abdominal muscles. This will cause a bulge near or at the belly button.

This navel may look swollen or as if it wants to come out of the baby's stomach. Generally, low birth weight (LBW) and premature babies have bulging navel.

At least 20 percent of babies have the condition of bulging udel, but both children and adults can experience it.

It's common if the baby's navel is bulging, usually this does not result in such a problematic health condition, and will heal or disappear as the child grows and develops.

Quoting from Kids Health, if an umbilical hernia causes health problems, doctors will recommend surgery.

What causes a bulging navel in babies?

The navel or abdominal ring muscle, is a tissue formed from the blood vessels in the umbilical cord that enter the body of the fetus, and is also known as the umbilical ring.

This umbilical ring usually closes before the baby is born. If it doesn't close completely, the tissue or bulge will come out through the ring, eventually creating a bulge in the belly button.

During pregnancy, the male fetus's testes will expand on its stomach. Then, just before birth, the testicles will push themselves into a channel in the tissue between the groin and abdomen (inguinal canal).

After finding a way, eventually the testicles will descend into the scrotal sac and this is what causes bulging in baby boys.

In contrast to baby girls, in girls the ovaries descend through the ducts and into the pelvis.

At that time, the part of the abdominal wall must close so as not to open the navel ringing hole which results in bulging.

A bulging navel that usually occurs in male babies about 5 percent more often than female babies.

Early signs of bulging navel in babies

Closure of the abdominal muscles that form the belly button, sometimes not fully united and make the intestines push against the navel. Then form a bulging navel in the baby or umbilical hernia.

Bulging navel is common in newborns and babies under 6 months of age. Quoting from Nationwide Children's, the initial symptoms are:

There is a slight swelling or bulge near the navel
The bulge becomes large and hard when the baby cries, coughs, or gets strained due to stomach pressure
Generally, a bulging navel does not cause pain

80 percent of conditions in a bulging navel or umbilical hernia can close by itself by the age of 3-4 years of age.

If the child's condition is disturbed, such as interfering with blood circulation to the intestines, a surgical procedure is necessary.

Surgery to repair a bulging navel is one of the most common procedures performed on children. Usually done on an outpatient basis and light treatment.

How is a bulging navel in babies diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose an umbilical hernia by seeing and feeling a lump or swelling in the navel area. The lump will usually enlarge when the baby cries and smaller when the baby lies on his back.

Who is at risk of having a bulging belly button?

There are several conditions that put babies at risk for bulging navels. Quoting from Stanford Children's, here are some risk factors:

Babies are born prematurely
Have a family who also has an umbilical hernia
Have cystic fibrosis
Have problems with the reproductive system or urinary tract
A baby boy with a testicular condition that does not descend into the scrotum before birth

Pay attention to the health condition of your little one if you have the risk factors above.

How to reduce bulging navel in babies?

Actually, this bulging of the navel will disappear on its own when the child is between 3-5 years old.

However, many parents are also worried about the protruding condition of the baby's navel. If you take your baby to the doctor, there are two things the pediatrician might recommend.

First, surgical procedures need to be carried out. This needs to be done if the condition of the baby's bulging navel interferes with development or at least makes the child in pain.

Surgery will aim to insert the intestine or tissue that is not completely closed.

Surgical procedures are not usually recommended by doctors, but they may be needed to repair hernias in babies.

Second, if there are no serious health problems, the doctor will suggest leaving it alone, because the bulging navel will disappear on its own.

There is no need to do special ways to shrink the navel or udel of a bulging baby.

When to see a doctor

Immediately contact the doctor if the baby experiences this when he has a bulging navel:

The navel becomes reddish or pale
The navel feels sore to the touch
The baby has a fever and vomits

If your little one experiences the above, you need to take him to the nearest health clinic. On rare occasions, a hernia can block blood flow to the intestine. This requires immediate treatment.