The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Paediatric umbilical hernia repair
HERNIA SURGERY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Umbilical hernias are common in babies and young children, but can be easily fixed with a straightforward procedure
What is an umbilical hernia in a child?
As your baby's belly button heals, the ring of muscle where the umbilical cord used to be may not completely close over.
A hernia will sometimes appear as a protruding lump at their belly button. This may be especially noticeable when your baby is coughing, crying or straining.
Need to know
Umbilical hernias usually disappear on their own as your baby's tummy muscles continue to develop. If the hernia is especially large or doesn't go away by the age of two, your consultant may recommend a procedure to repair it.
This will prevent potential complications as your child gets older. The procedure is done under general anaesthetic, meaning your child will be asleep. Your surgeon will make a small cut at your child's belly button and push the protruding tissue forming the hernia back into place.
They will also close any weak spots or gaps in your child's tummy muscles with stitches. The procedure usually takes around 30 minutes in theatre.
Your child's consultant will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you might have. Because the procedure will be done under general anaesthetic, they'll let you know how long your child should avoid eating and drinking before surgery.
Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you.
Your child should be able to return home on the same day as their surgery. Sometimes very young children are cared for in hospital overnight.
There is likely to be some bruising and swelling or tenderness in the area for about a week following the procedure. Your child's consultant may recommend pain relief medication, including paracetamol or ibuprofen, to help keep your child comfortable.
Your child's consultant will also let you know when they can get back to their usual routine including school or nursery.
Paying for medical treatment
You don't need medical insurance to have fast access to our top consultants, extensive range of treatments, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures at our world-class facilities.
Our Paediatric umbilical hernia repair locations
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.