A herniated umbilical cord is when the intestines push against the abdominal wall, causing a bulge around the belly button. It can affect adults and children, but often goes away on its own in children. Surgery is recommended if it doesn’t close or causes complications. Adults may need surgery as the hernia tends to grow and doesn’t close on its own.
A herniated umbilical cord is a condition in which the intestines push against the abdominal wall, causing a small bulge around the belly button. This condition can affect adults of any age, although it is frequently present from birth and tends to appear more often in premature babies. It can go away on its own, which is why treatment is often delayed in children until the age of three or four. In fact, it doesn’t even require treatment unless it’s painful or excessively large, as it usually poses no danger to the patient’s health.
The intestines typically grow faster than the abdominal cavity in an unborn baby, floating it out of the body in the umbilical cord for a short time. Once there is enough space in the stomach area, they usually return to the body and the abdominal wall closes behind them. Umbilical hernias occur when the wall doesn’t close completely, allowing the intestines to push against it and create a visible bulge in the stomach after the baby is born. It usually seems most noticeable when the baby cries, coughs, or does anything else to strain the abdominal muscles.
In most cases, a herniated umbilical cord closes on its own within the affected child’s first few years of life, meaning no treatment is needed at first. If it doesn’t close when the child is three or seems to be getting bigger, surgery is often recommended. It is also recommended if complications occur, such as strangulation, where circulation to part of the intestine is cut off. The surgery involves cutting the area just below the navel and pushing the herniated tissue back. This treatment for an umbilical cord hernia usually takes less than two hours.
Adults can also have a herniated umbilical cord, although they may only become aware of it after years of having it, as this defect is usually present from birth. Adults who are more likely to experience this problem include those who have liver disease, are overweight and have weak stomach muscles, are pregnant, or have had several children. Just as in children, the bulge created by the herniated umbilical cord often becomes more apparent when the adult coughs or otherwise strains. Unfortunately, hernias usually don’t close on their own when present in an adult and tend to grow, which is why many adults opt for surgery to rectify it.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
