Understanding Umbilical Cord Hernias

Umbilical cord hernias are most common in infants, especially if they are born prematurely. Approximately 10 percent of infants get this type of hernia. However, some adults also get umbilical hernias, which involve fatty tissues or part of the intestines poking through the abdominal wall in a location near the belly button that is weaker than the surrounding muscle. This weak spot occurs when the hole the umbilical cord used to pass through does not close all the way before the person is born.

Umbilical cord hernias usually look like a lump, and this lump sometimes looks larger when the person with the hernia cries, laughs or coughs, and looks smaller when the person is lying down. Adults who are overweight, have a persistent cough, undergo multiple pregnancies or do a lot of heavy lifting are more likely to get umbilical hernias.

In infants, umbilical hernias do not usually require hernia repair. These hernias usually resolve themselves within a year and are usually not painful. The doctor can sometimes push an infant’s hernia back into place, but parents should not attempt to do this themselves. Surgery may be needed to fix umbilical hernias that don’t close up on their own by the time a child reaches the age of four, or if the hernia becomes painful, swollen or discolored. This may be a sign the hernia is blocking the intestines or is trapped. Umbilical hernias are more likely to be painful or lead to complications in adults, so adults who get this type of hernia often require surgical hernia repair.