Advice Needed: Umbilical Hernias

Swannja1

For the past two years I have been having periodic sharp/stabbing pain in my belly-button (even to the touch). I wrote it off as a symptom of my endometriosis because it coincidentally occurred right before my period. After all of this time, I discover today at my monthly check-up that I have an Umbilical Hernia. My OB would like me to wait until after my 6-week post-partum visit to schedule surgery (although, he said they could do the surgery while I'm pregnant if the hernia gets worse). After researching, it appears that I likely got it during my last pregnancy.

Has anyone ever had an umbilical hernia before? Apparently it's common in babies but uncommon in adults and can lead to many problems without surgery.

If not an umbilical hernia, has anyone had hernia surgery in general? Please share your experience. This is such a surprise to me that now I have to prepare myself for surgery with a newborn.

Thanks for listening and sharing any advice.

smalpotato

I have one too.  So far I've only talked to my midwife about it since she noticed it at my last appointment.  She said that I probably got it the first time I was pregnant.  She also said its best to wait until I know I'm done having kids and then get it fixed.  Of course if it causes problems I will need it done sooner.  She made it sound like there is no rush.  She also said that it would likely cause some discomfort as this pregnancy progresses.

Mine never caused any pain between pregnancies so maybe mine is not as bad?  I did notice that the space between my abs stayed pretty big and my belly button skin never lined up with the hole after I had my son. 

I did some googling and it seems somewhat common for pregnant women to have this.  Since the midwife is not worried I'm not going to rush into any surgery or decisions until after the baby is born (unless it turns out that I need it).  I see an ob too so I will discuss it with her next time I see her. 

MrsCAA

I have one (and had it with my last pg too.) Each pg it gets worse b/c the abs have already been stretched. Unless it gets really bad, my ob doesnt want to do anything until after i'm completely done having kids. (My goes away after pregnancy).

Not lifting/using thoses muscles help, and a support band may help it from getting too bad.

Swannja1

Thanks ladies for sharing. I will keep an eye on when the pain returns -it's just so painful when it happens I can't even move until it's over. I hope it doesn't get worse as my belly gets bigger.

Fordlor

::Lurking and wanted to chime in::

I had a ventral hernia with my last pregnancy.  So the hernia was above my belly button but below my boobs.  I just had surgery for it in January.  (I am 100% done having kids).  Because my hernia was so large, I was not a candidate for a laproscopic procedure.  So I had to have open hernia repair- which means I was cut horizontally from hip bone to hip bone.  It was a major surgery and the recovery was tough (thankfully my kids are older and I didn't need to lift or carry them, plus I had a lot of help the initial few weeks - DH and my mom).  But I'm almost six weeks post-op and I'm so glad to have the hernia gone!  I no longer look four months pregnant.  I have a flat stomach again.  Yay!

If yours is small enough, you can have the surgery done laproscopically as an out-patient procedure.  Easy peasy. 

GL!