Causes of umbilical hernia during pregnancy
Most umbilical hernias are congenital, meaning you have had the hernia since
birth. The hernia may have been small or not caused any noticeable symptoms.
Pregnancy or excessive weight gain can put stress on the defective or weak area
of the abdominal wall causing the hernia to become more noticeable. Many adults
have umbilical hernias that go unnoticed because the defect is so small that
tissue can not pass through it. Once the hole gets large enough that tissue
can pass through, the hernia can become painful and you may see bulging around
the umbilical area.
Treatment of umbilical hernia during pregnancy
In most cases it is best to wait until you are no longer pregnant before attempting
to repair an umbilical hernia. However, if an umbilical hernia becomes incarcerated,
meaning that tissue remains trapped in the defective area and can’t be
pushed back in, it will need to be repaired immediately. When a hernia becomes
incarcerated the trapped tissue will not receive blood and will eventually die.
An incarcerated hernia is generally painful and requires urgent surgical repair.
As long as the umbilical hernia is not incarcerated, it is usually best to wait
to have it repaired. If the hernia is bulging and uncomfortable, rest and gently
massage the hernia until the bulging goes back in. If the umbilical hernia is
painful or cannot be pushed back in seek immediate medical attention.
