Should I make the doctor look at my son's Umbilical hernia?

Question

His belly has a pooch on one side, and he has an obvious umbilical hernia. The doctor did not look at it but said that there are never complications with an umbilical hernia. I've heard different, and it bothers me that she shook it off without even seeing him. (he's displaying alot of the signs of having Intestinal Strangulation -- his umbilical cord stump is hard and frequently unable to recede back or be pushed back into the abdomen, sensitivity in the area, constipation, increased appettite, etc. (My two week old son is eating approximately 4 ounces every two hours, or sometimes 2.5 ounces every hour. Im an infant care specialist, and from my training and experience, this is an awful lot.) He also seems to have trouble passing gas -- he screams an extremely painful sounding cry, unlike any infant cry i've ever heard, and I've heard alot. I really want to take him to the hospital, but the doctor was so sure of herself. Am I just being paranoid, or should I take him in?

The doctor i see is the only ped in town-- even if i take him to the ER, she is the doc that would check him. The only Fam. Prac. in town doesnt see children until age 6. Stupid, i know.

Answer 1

My son had an Umbilical hernia. I could kindly push it in and it would slowly come back out. He didn't have no problems whatsoever with it and did not cry when i touched it. I was scared to death about it and i did take him to the er and they said it was nothing to worry about then i took him to his doctor and same thing. The doctor told me that it usually goes away by the time they are 2 years old but it went away a whole lot sooner. I think if i remember well around 5-6 months. However the doctor said if it did not go away by the time they are 2 they can do surgery to correct it.

What is an umbilical hernia?
When the fetus is growing and developing during pregnancy, there is a small opening in the abdominal muscles so that the umbilical cord can pass through, connecting the mother to the fetus. After birth, the opening in the abdominal muscles closes as the baby matures. Sometimes, these muscles do not meet and grow together completely, and there is still a small opening present. A loop of intestine can move into the opening between abdominal muscles and cause a hernia.

Who is at risk for developing a hernia?
Hernias occur more often in babies who have one or more of the following risk factors:

a parent or sibling who had a hernia as a baby
cystic fibrosis
developmental dysplasia of the hip
undescended testes
abnormalities of the urethra
Umbilical hernias occur:

in about 10 percent of all babies.
more often in African-American babies.
more often in girls than in boys.
more often in premature babies.
Why is a hernia a concern?
Occasionally, the loop of intestine that protrudes through a hernia may become stuck, and is no longer reducible. This means that the intestinal loop cannot be gently pushed back into the abdominal cavity. When this happens, that section of intestine may lose its blood supply. A good blood supply is necessary for the intestine to be healthy and function properly.

What are the symptoms of a hernia?
Hernias usually occur in newborns, but may not be noticeable for several weeks or months after birth.

Straining and crying do not cause hernias; however, the increased pressure in the abdomen can make a hernia more noticeable.

Inguinal hernias appear as a bulge or swelling in the groin or scrotum. The swelling may be more noticeable when the baby cries, and may get smaller or go away when the baby relaxes. If your physician presses gently on this bulge when the baby is calm and lying down, it will usually get smaller or go back into the abdomen.


Umbilical hernias appear as a bulge or swelling in the belly-button area. The swelling may be more noticeable when the baby cries, and may get smaller or go away when the baby relaxes. If your physician presses gently on this bulge when the baby is calm and lying down, it will usually get smaller or go back into the abdomen.
If the hernia is not reducible, then the loop of intestine may be caught in the weakened area of abdominal muscle. Symptoms that may be seen when this happens include the following:

a full, round abdomen
vomiting
pain or fussiness
redness or discoloration
fever
The symptoms of a hernia may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your baby's physician for a diagnosis.

How are hernias diagnosed?
Hernias can be diagnosed by a physical examination by your baby's physician. Your baby will be examined to determine if the hernia is reducible (can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity) or not. Your baby's physician may order abdominal x-rays or ultrasound to examine the intestine more closely, especially if the hernia is no longer reducible.

Treatment for hernias:
Specific treatment will be determined by your baby's physician based on:

your baby's gestational age, overall health, and medical history


the type of hernia


whether the hernia is reducible (can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity) or not


your baby's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies


your opinion or preference
Umbilical hernia:
By 1 year of age, many umbilical hernias will have closed on their own without needing surgery. Nearly all umbilical hernias will have closed without surgery by age 5.

Placing a coin or strap over the hernia will not fix it.

There are many opinions about when a surgical repair of an umbilical hernia is necessary. In general, if the hernia becomes bigger with age, is not reducible, or is still present after 3, your physician may suggest that the hernia be repaired surgically. Always consult your baby's physician to determine what is best for your child.

During a hernia operation, your baby will be placed under anesthesia. A small incision is made in the umbilicus (belly button). The loop of intestine is placed back into the abdominal cavity. The muscles are then stitched together. Sometimes a piece of meshed material is used to help strengthen the area where the muscles are repaired.

A hernia operation is usually a fairly simple procedure. Otherwise healthy babies who have an umbilical hernia surgically repaired may also be able to go home the same day they have the operation.

What is the long-term outlook for this disorder?
Once the hernia is closed, either spontaneously or by surgery, it is unlikely that it will reoccur. The chance for reoccurrence of the hernia may be increased if the intestine was damaged.

http://uuhsc.utah.edu/healthinfo/pediatric/hrnewborn/umbilica.htm

Answer 2

If he is eating that much and having bowel movements then his intestines are working fine. In 27 years as a pediatric nurse/nurse practitioner I have never seen a baby have a strangulated umbilical hernia. Almost all of these close before age 5 which is the earliest time surgical closure is recommended.

It appears that you are overfeeding your son. His stomach is about the size of his fist and can not digest that much formula. This makes him miserable. Sucking comforts him. Try reducing the amount of his feedings and not feeding him any closer than 2 1/2 hours since his previous feeding to give his tummy time to empty and be ready for more formula.

Give him a pacifier to comfort him between feedings. If he is very gassy try some Mylicon drops. If he is on a cow milk formula(Enfamil, Similac) you may want to try a soy based formula (Isomil, Prosobee)--especially if you or his dad do not tolerate cows milk.

Try not to worry about the umbilical hernia. Usually if babies are really sick they tend to not eat and fuss.

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Take him to a dirfrent doctor a doctor that does not check a concern of a parent is not a good doctor. take him to the hospitle i would say just to be safe and then start calling other Pediatricans OR call some familey doctors. I had a Pedi but had some masive problems with the practice (them not checking out my concerns) so i switched to a familey doctor and LOVE it. they are much more frendly and willing to help.

Answer 4

Yes you definitely need a second opinion.
My two oldest son's both needed surgery for their umbilical hernia's.

Answer 5

Get a 2nd opinion for sure. My best friend's son has one and they waited until he was a year and did a harmless and effective surgery to remove it.

Please, take him in! You are NOT paranoid at all!

Answer 6

u need 2 get him 2 another doctor as soon as possible no ur not being paranoid

Answer 7

put your finger in the hernea. how many fingers can you stick into it? if it is bigger than the tip of your finger than yes get a dr appt, or get asecond opinion. this is how my dr told me they decide if they need to watch it, or if it will be fine.