What causes a belly button to be an "outtie" versus an "innie?"?

Answer 1

" As numerous sources including BBC Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota report, whether you end up with an innie or an outie is random. Nikon MicroscopyU suggests that extra skin left from the umbilical cord may cause the protrusion of an outie, and the Queensland Science Teachers Network says the difference between innies and outies is due to where the umbilical cord is cut. But these are the only sources we found that offered such explanations. A doctor quoted in one Salon column notes that the umbilical cord is always clamped several inches away from the navel and doesn't affect innie or outie status.

A more popular theory about outies is that they are caused by umbilical hernias. This condition is due to a small circular defect in the baby's abdominal wall that can make the belly button protrude. ParentSoup estimates that 10% to 30% of babies are born with umbilical hernias, but most heal as the abdominal muscles grow during a baby's first few years. However, American Baby says not to confuse an umbilical hernia with an outie belly button. A hernia expands when the baby cries or strains, but an outie doesn't. Also, the Cleveland Clinic's picture of an umbilical hernia looks a lot more protuberant than a standard outie."

http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20021029.html

"there isn't anything the doctor or nurse can do to determine whether a baby ends up with an innie or an outie belly button. The umbilical cord is clamped or tied a few inches from the belly button, and the stump falls off on its own. The shape of the belly button a person ends up with is determined by how the umbilical cord was attached, not where it was cut."

http://www.drspock.com/faq/0,1511,15085,00.html

Answer 2

Thats Rubbish its nothing to do with the way its cut.

You get an outie by having whats called an umbilcal hernia. This can range in severity from minor (sometimes it isn't even noticed) to major which will require an operation, this can run in families too, I had a major one and had the operation. I had an outie all my life untill I had my daughter at which point it receded and now i have an innie. My daughter had a Moderate hernia which closed on its own but she will have an outie and my step son has an outie from a minor hernia that went unoticed when he was a baby.

Umbilcal hernias are not normally serious and very rarely need any intervention. You can tell if a baby has one from about 2 weeks when although the extra cord has droped of, there is still a very small hole which is more noticable when the baby crys, thsi will eventually close up, creating an OUTIE!

Answer 3

I've another view on this, my belly button was outtie. After I getting fatter, it became innie.

Answer 4

i've noticed that as your stomach gets bigger your belly button tend to be an innie, and as it gets smaller it tends to be an outtie. that's just my personal observation. i mean next time you open up a magazine with thin models, just check their mid sections out.

Answer 5

The umbilical cord dries up and falls off after the baby is born. I guess it is a lottery what you are left with.

Answer 6

Depending on how the umbilical cord was cut at birth which was an extension of your navel.

Answer 7

How the umbilical cord was cut. I had an outy when I was young.

Answer 8

its how the midwife arranges it when the baby is born. In most places you can specify which you prefer.

Answer 9

its the way your (sorry about spelling) umbrical cord is cut in hospital when your born