About this topic
A hernia starts with a weak place in your babys belly wall around the belly button. Then the lining of your child's belly can push through the weak place and form a sack. A hernia looks like a bulge or swelling on the outside of your child's belly. It can push out when your child is active or crying but may flatten when your child is relaxed. ‚
Umbilical hernia repair may be done by cutting the belly. This is called an open repair. It can also be done with a tool that goes through the belly button. This is called a laparoscopic repair. Your doctor can help you decide what procedure is best for your child. ‚
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- Give your child the drugs as ordered by the doctor.
- Talk to the doctor about how to care for your childs cut sites. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change the bandages
- When your child may take a bath or shower
- If your child needs to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When your child may go back to normal activities like school or daycare
- Be sure to wash your hands before touching your child's wound or dressing.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If your child has stitches or staples, they need to be taken out. The doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Your child may not feel like doing normal activities for a few days after surgery. Give your child time to rest and relax while healing. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
It may take your child a few days to get back to a normal eating routine. Try small amount of food first to make sure that your child does not feel sick after eating. Have your child drink lots of liquids. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Hernia comes back
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
There is no way to prevent this type of hernia. Once it either goes away on its own or is fixed by surgery, it should not come back. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain or trouble with passing urine, or wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Not able to eat or drink
- Bleeding
- Very bad pain not helped by the drugs ordered
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my child's cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has swelling, redness, or warmth around the wound.
Where can I learn more?
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/UmbilicalHernia/Pages/Whathappenspage.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚