Patient's question:
When our baby was 11 days old, the umbilical scar fell off, but the umbilical area is still protruding outward. When there was a scar, it was about 2-3 cm higher than the skin. Now it's about 1 cm. I would like to ask if it's normal for a newborn's umbilical area to protrude?Doctor's answer:
A newborn's protruding umbilicus is a type of congenital developmental defect in children. In such cases, treatment should be determined based on the individual condition of each newborn. Umbilical protrusion occurs when the umbilical ring has not closed normally at birth, causing the intestine to protrude through the umbilical canal, forming an umbilical hernia. This presents as a spherical or hemispherical, reducible, cystic mass at the umbilicus. When the child is lying flat and calm, the protrusion may disappear. Crying, coughing, or gently pressing the mass can help it retract into the abdominal cavity. It is recommended to follow medical advice.