If your child had an umbilical hernia, I have a question.

[cleo29]

C has had one, or I first noticed it, since last summer. We were waiting to see if it would close up on its own. So far, that has not happened. She does get periodic stomach pains, she says gassy pains, in the area of the hernia.

If your child had one, what was done for it? were there clear signs of it getting worse?

[cst2cst]

DD had one. It was decently sized in the beginning. Her md said that they wait and see and that most resolve before two. I think they would have talked about surgery if it didn't resolve. Hers was gone by 18 months, I think. She still has a bit of an outie, but it is small.

I was told to watch for it getting bigger or red. The md always checked to see if it could be pushed back in, but I don't think we were supposed to do that on our own.

ETA: DD had hers right after birth, so it took 18 months to heal. They would have watched for 2 years before talking about doing anything.

[lilac05]

I think DS1 had a very small one at around one year, after a particularly nasty cough. It went away over time.

[BicycleBride]

DH had one that didn't resolve so he had it fixed a few years ago (late 20s). He said it mostly gave him trouble doing sit ups or similar movement. He said afterward he wished he'd done it a long time ago but he had a super fast recovery and very little pain. I don't know if that helps you or not.

[lilybug]

My 4 y.o. has had a small one since birth. Just looks like a big outie bellybutton.

At first our pedi said it would probably heal itself when he started walking. I asked again at 18 mos, he said they wouldn't even consider surgery til 3 yrs. I asked again at 3 yrs, and they said since he has no pain, they wouldn't consider surgery til "school age." So now I wait again.

But his has never changed, worse or better. I'd consult the pedi if it seemed to be growing.