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" Question I have been told my daughter has a belly button hernia. However, I do not understand what this means and its consequences.  Please could you explain what it means? What can be done to eliminate it and could it have been avoided?   Answer I expect that the belly button hernia that you mention is the same thing that the midwife or doctor might call an umbilical hernia.  Don&amp;#039;t worry, this is not a dangerous condition, and if your daughter needs any treatment at all it is likely to be only a small operation. Umbilical hernia is common in all races, and it appears as a soft swelling covered in skin that protrudes during crying or straining.  These are usually small and they are due to an imperfect closure or weakness of the muscles surrounding the umbilicus where the cord was attached. Most umbilical hernias that appear before the age of six months will disappear spontaneously by the first birthday.  Even quite large ones may resolve unaided by the age of five or six. Strapping up the hernia never works; it only serves to make the infant uncomfortable.  Surgery will be required to repair the defect if the hernia is getting bigger, but if it is small and causing no problems, I should wait another year to see if it will resolve.  If surgery is necessary, your daughter will only need to be in hospital for a few hours to have an anaesthetic and a fairly simple procedure.  She is likely to recover amazingly quickly, and only have a little scar. I hope this helps to allay your fears as it really is nothing to worry about. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team   Other Q&amp;amp;As Are bowel and bladder problems linked? Constipation in kids Dark stools - could my baby have a food allergy? Does my daughter have piles? Five-year-old wees on the carpet How can I encourage my daughter to do a poo? How can I stop my five year old from soiling herself? I&amp;#039;m concerned about my son&amp;#039;s stools My child is constipated My daughter has started wetting herself during the day My daughter has suffered from tummy pains since she was six My daughter is afraid to go to the loo My daughter is wetting her knickers a lot My daughter keeps passing wind My daughter suffers from stomachaches My daughter wets on the floor My 10-year-old soils his underwear My son has a para-umbilical hernia My son has green-tinged stools My son keeps messing his pants My son soils his underwear My son suffers from piles My young son has been complaining of bottom pains Our two-year-old granddaughter has severe constipation Pain when breaking wind Smelly urine What are these worms in my son&amp;#039;s stool? What could be causing my daughter&amp;#039;s tummy ache? What is gastroenteritis and what can be done about it? What shall I do about my daughter&amp;#039;s hernia? Why does my little boy appear to be constipated all the time? Why is my four year old soiling his pants?   Last updated 21.05.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/pregnancy-and-family/a9638/belly-button-hernia/>