The he alth of a newborn baby is the most important thing for parents. In the first days of life, it is necessary to pay attention to everything that concerns the child. After all, any deviations in the neonatal period make parents worry. Therefore, even seemingly minor symptoms should be a reason to consult a doctor.
However, there are conditions that are not dangerous and go away on their own. An example is a bulging belly button. It occurs in every 4-5 babies. In most cases, this symptom is observed with an umbilical hernia. The disease is not dangerous and usually goes away on its own if you follow the right regimen.
Still need to see a doctor. In this case, the he alth of the baby will be monitored to prevent complications. In addition, the doctor will tell you how to quickly get rid of the disturbing symptom.
Why does a baby's belly button bulge?
Everyone knows that during the development of a child in the womb, the umbilical cord is a vital organ. Thanks to it, the fetus is nourished and oxygenated. When the baby is bornthe connection between it and matter is interrupted. The newborn is able to breathe and feed on its own. For this reason, the binding body loses its significance.
The umbilical cord is cut, leaving a small remnant - a stump. To prevent bleeding and achieve rapid healing, it is fixed with a special clamp. Normally, the stump dries up and falls off on its own within a week. The umbilical ring is pulled inwards. But in some cases this does not happen.
In 20-30% of cases, a bulging navel occurs in a newborn. More often this phenomenon is observed in premature babies. If this symptom is not accompanied by other signs (weeping, suppuration), then it is not considered dangerous to the he alth of the baby. In most cases, medical and surgical treatment is not required. Despite this, it is necessary to show the bulging navel to the surgeon. He will tell you what to do so that the organ “takes its place.”
What causes a protruding navel?
Most often this symptom occurs in newborns and toddlers. Also, a protruding navel can be seen in pregnant women. In this case, the bulge occurs due to overstretching of the abdominal muscles. This condition is physiological and goes away on its own after childbirth. Among the reasons why a bulging navel appears in a child, the following factors are distinguished:
- Hernia. It can occur immediately after birth, but more often develops in the first months of life. In rare cases, an umbilical hernia occurs in children under 7 years of age. The cause of its appearance is considered to be weakness of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. This is observed with improper care of the baby or is inherited.
- High cord ligation. In this case, convexity is considered as a variant of the norm. It does not threaten the he alth of the baby, however, most parents want to get rid of this symptom.
- Fistula in the umbilical ring. This phenomenon occurs in newborns and is considered an anomaly - underdevelopment of the urinary and vitelline ducts (normally, they should close at 5 months of pregnancy).
What to do if the navel is protruding?
Despite the fact that the bulging navel is not dangerous, supervision is necessary. It is necessary in order to prevent the development of complications. In most cases, a bulge is a sign of an umbilical hernia. Often, this pathology does not require special treatment.
In order for the navel to “snap into place” (pull inward), it is necessary to strengthen the abdominal muscles. For this baby, you need to turn over on your stomach as often as possible. In this position, he should be within 15-20 minutes. Also, the mother of a newborn needs to eat right to avoid the appearance of intestinal colic and the accumulation of gases in the child.
Besides this, to reduce the hernia, the umbilical ring is folded and sealed with adhesive tape for 10 days. Thanks to these methods, the protrusion should disappear. The same measures can be taken with high ligation of the umbilical cord. Surgical help is needed for external and internal fistulas.
What symptoms should alert parents?
As you know, the main cause of the protrusion of the navel is a hernia. In most cases, it is not dangerous. However, this disease can lead to complications. A hernia is a hole in the anterior abdominal wall into which internal organs protrude. Most often, the intestine sticks out. Since it is a hollow organ, the penetration of infection causes an inflammatory process that turns into peritonitis.
Another complication is a strangulated hernia. As a result, part of the organ undergoes necrosis. Also, infringement can lead to the development of intestinal obstruction. All of these complications are considered life-threatening, especially at an early age. Therefore, the appearance of symptoms such as redness, the appearance of a wound with serous or purulent contents, retention of stools and gases serve as a reason for urgent medical attention.
Prevention of bulging navel
To avoid the bulge of the navel, the following rules must be observed:
- Turn baby belly down and lay on a hard surface several times a day.
- Do not allow a long cry - calm the child.
- Try to avoid the accumulation of gases in the intestines.
