If the area round your baby’s umbilicus bulges out when he cries, he may have an umbilical hernia. This is a small opening in the abdominal muscle which allows the skin to bulge out when there is pressure inside the abdomen such as when baby cries or tries to poop. It is not a serious condition and the majority will heal by twelve to eighteen months but some may take about 3-4 years to resolve. It can be very frightening for the parents when they look at the bulge especially if it is quite big (in their eyes) whereas the doctor says that it is small.
It is not recommended to put a coin on it as some old wives proclaim because the coin may slip to the back and cause pressure on the skin where baby lies on it.
I find that by using an abdominal binder on the umbilical hernia it prevents the hernia from bulging too much when baby cries and it helps the umbilical ring to close faster.
I would like to thank Sebastian for giving me the opportunity to show a real umbilical hernia.
Four months later the hernia is half the size and almost becoming an ‘innie’.
Use a cloth nappy to make the binder. Just fold it according to the steps below:
