Patient's question:
15 days after the newborn's umbilical cord falls off, the scar left behind fell off today with a small amount of thick discharge. When crying, the umbilical area protrudes. What is going on? Urgent. This is the first time this has happened. Is this situation serious? Do I need to see a doctor?Doctor's answer:
Since the abdominal wall muscles of infants have not developed well, the umbilical ring has not fully self-ligated. If abdominal pressure is increased, the intestines may protrude through the weak umbilical ring, forming an umbilical hernia. If a baby has an umbilical hernia, it is important to minimize the chances of increased abdominal pressure, such as avoiding excessive crying, adjusting the baby's diet to prevent further abdominal pain or constipation. In smaller umbilical hernias, such as those with a diameter less than 1.5 cm, most can heal on their own within 2 years as the abdominal wall grows. Given that umbilical hernias in infants rarely recur, non-surgical treatment can be initially administered. This includes the adhesive tape ligation method, where a wide strip of tape is used to gather the sides of the abdominal wall toward the midline, securing the hernia to prevent further protrusion and keeping the umbilical area in a tension-free state, allowing the umbilical ring to gradually scar and ligate. Replace the tape once a week. If tape dermatitis occurs, switch to an abdominal bandage with appropriate air release and rewrap. If the umbilical hernia is relatively severe but confined to a small area, a one-yuan coin can be wrapped in cloth and sewn with a loose elastic band. The coin part is placed over the umbilical area, and the entire bandage is tied around the baby's body, allowing the hernia to fully recover.