Why does the baby have umbilical cord protrusion?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Umbilical prolapse is a common condition in newborns. The lack of knowledge makes many mothers do not know how to fix it, leading to unfortunate cases. There is no clear cause for an umbilical hernia, but according to statistics, umbilical cord disease in newborns is more common in premature babies, babies born with low birth weight. The rate of girls having protrusion umbilicus is also higher than that of boys.

1. Why are newborn babies prone to protrusion?


Protruding umbilicus in newborns caused by umbilical hernia. When a baby has an umbilical hernia, a part of the internal organs will leave its normal position and then come out of the umbilical cord (when a baby is born, the umbilical cord is not closed because this is the route for nutrients from the placenta). into the baby's body), forming a prominent protrusion in the abdomen. When the baby cries loudly, tries to push himself to defecate or twist, the mother will see more clearly that his protruding belly button is expanding.

2. Symptoms of an umbilical hernia in an infant leading to a protruding umbilicus


Right after the first weeks after birth, umbilical hernia can be detected in the baby. However, some children have to grow up to be able to see clearly. Symptoms of umbilical hernia leading to umbilical protrusion in children are:
There is bulging tissue under the skin in the navel area. When the child is sitting, standing upright, it will be more visible or when the child has strong abdominal muscles such as crying, coughing. Gently press with your hand, you can push a part of the protruding tissue inward. These tissues are not the same size in every child, usually they are only under 2.5cm. Children do not feel pain.

3. Is the umbilical cord protrusion in a newborn dangerous?

In most cases, newborn umbilical cord protrusion does not pose a danger to the health and life of the baby. Umbilical prolapse is also painless and does not lead to other complications even when no treatment is taken. However, it greatly affects the aesthetic factor, especially for girls, this problem is even more serious.

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umbilical hernia in newborns due to umbilical hernia will go away on its own when the baby is 1 year old or older, there are also many cases when the baby is 4, 5 years old, the umbilicus will decrease, when the hole in the abdominal wall has been closed close. In rare cases, umbilical cord protrusion includes a number of other symptoms that can be a sign of a strangulated hernia, which is life-threatening. The baby needs immediate surgery.
Incarcerated hernia is a condition in which part of the intestine becomes trapped in the hernia. Children at this time will have vomiting, pain, and bloating in the navel area. When the mother takes the baby to the doctor, the doctor can easily push the hernia in the navel in, but the parents absolutely must not do this at home.

4. How to treat umbilical cord protrusion for babies


Usually, the umbilical cord will close before the baby is 1 year old and the baby does not need any treatment or will shrink as the baby gets older. However, in some of the following cases, the mother should take the baby to surgery:
The child is 5 years old but the umbilical cord is still not closed. The protruding tissue is too large or uncomfortable for the child. Children with a strangulated hernia need immediate surgery. (This is usually quite rare) Even though the baby's navel is grown, it still looks unsightly After the surgery, the child can be immediately discharged from the hospital and cared for at home, parents should not be too worried.

5. How to prevent umbilical cord protrusion in children


Limit the baby crying, screaming to limit the pressure from the abdomen to the navel - the cause of the belly button protrusion. Pick your baby up and coax him to calm down. Avoid constipation for children by changing the high-fiber nutrition for children. Let children use papaya soup, sweet potato soup to help children digest more easily. Gently massage your baby's tummy every day. As a key area of ​​Vinmec Medical system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All are well-trained, professional, with a mind - range, understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Master. Dr. Vu Quoc Anh has nearly 10 years of experience as a resident doctor and treating doctor at Hue Central Hospital and Danang Children's Hospital. Currently, he is a Pediatrician - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

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