Umbilical Hernia in Babies and Adults: When It Closes on Its Own and When Surgery Is Needed
Updated: 2 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: September 2026
TL;DR
An umbilical hernia is a soft bulge near the bellybutton (navel) caused when part of the intestine pushes through a small gap in the abdominal muscles. It is common and usually harmless. In babies, the bump is often most visible when they cry, cough, or strain, and most hernias close on their own by age 1 or 2. Adult umbilical hernias are more likely to need surgical repair. Emergency care is needed if the bulge becomes painful or tender, or if a baby with a hernia appears to be in pain, begins vomiting, or shows swelling or discoloration at the site.
Quick Answer
What is an umbilical hernia? A condition in which part of the intestine bulges through an opening in the abdominal muscles near the bellybutton.
What it looks like: A soft swelling or bulge near the navel; in babies, often visible only when crying, coughing, or straining.
Who gets it: Most common in infants — especially premature babies and low birth weight babies; it also occurs in adults.
Why it happens in babies: The abdominal muscle opening that the umbilical cord passed through during gestation fails to close completely after birth.
Why it happens in adults: Too much abdominal pressure, from causes such as obesity, multiple pregnancies, or long-term peritoneal dialysis.
Natural course: Most childhood hernias close on their own by age 1 or 2; some remain open into the fifth year or longer.
When surgery is needed: For children, when the hernia is painful, large, not shrinking, still open by age 5, or trapped; for adults, surgery is typically recommended to avoid complications.
When to get emergency care: If the bulge becomes painful or tender, or — in a baby — if the child appears to be in pain, begins vomiting, or the site becomes swollen or discolored.
Content reviewed against current medical sources (page last updated December 24, 2025). This guide is educational and does not replace care from a licensed provider.
What Is an Umbilical Hernia?
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of the intestine bulges through a small opening in the abdominal muscles near the bellybutton. The result is a soft swelling or bump at the navel.
The condition is common and typically harmless. In babies, the bulge is especially easy to spot when the infant cries — the bellybutton may protrude noticeably. Coughing and straining can have the same effect, since both increase pressure inside the abdomen.
In children, umbilical hernias are usually painless. In adults, the same condition may cause abdominal discomfort.
What Does an Umbilical Hernia Look Like? Symptoms and Signs
The telltale sign is a soft swelling or bulge near the navel. In babies, the bump may appear only when the baby cries, coughs, or strains — and may be nearly invisible when the baby is relaxed.
For most children, the hernia causes no pain at all. In adults, the bulge may come with abdominal discomfort.
Sign | What You Will Notice | Most Common In |
Soft swelling near the navel | A gentle bulge at the bellybutton | Babies and adults |
Bulge visible when crying or coughing | Protrusion appears with strain, relaxes afterward | Babies |
Bellybutton protrudes when baby cries | Classic infant sign | Babies |
Abdominal discomfort | Mild discomfort around the bulge | Adults |
Table: Signs of an umbilical hernia by age group.
What Causes an Umbilical Hernia?
In babies: a muscle gap that fails to close
During gestation, the umbilical cord passes through a small opening in the baby's abdominal muscles. This opening normally closes just after birth. If the muscles do not join together completely in the midline of the abdominal wall, the gap persists — and a hernia may appear at birth or develop later in the first few years of life.
In adults: excess abdominal pressure
In adults, too much abdominal pressure contributes to umbilical hernias. Contributing factors include:
Adult Risk Factor | How It Adds Pressure |
Obesity | Extra weight presses on the abdominal wall |
Multiple pregnancies | Repeated stretching of the abdominal muscles |
Fluid in the abdominal cavity | Chronic fluid buildup pushes outward |
Previous abdominal surgery | Scar tissue and weakened muscle |
Long-term peritoneal dialysis | Ongoing pressure from kidney-failure treatment |
Table: Factors that increase abdominal pressure in adults.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Infants are by far the most commonly affected group. Within that group, premature babies and low birth weight babies face the highest risk. In the US, Black infants have a slightly increased risk. The condition affects boys and girls equally.
In adults, being overweight or having multiple pregnancies increases risk, and the condition is more common in women.
Can an Umbilical Hernia Become Dangerous? Complications to Watch For
For children, complications are rare. They occur when the protruding abdominal tissue becomes trapped (incarcerated) — meaning it can no longer be pushed back into the abdominal cavity.
When tissue is trapped, blood supply to that part of the intestine is reduced. This causes abdominal pain and tissue damage. If the trapped intestine is completely cut off from its blood supply, the tissue dies, and infection may spread through the abdominal cavity — a life-threatening situation.
Adults are somewhat more likely than children to experience intestinal blockage from the hernia. Emergency surgery is typically required to treat these complications.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Situation | What to Do |
You suspect an umbilical hernia in your baby | Talk with the baby's doctor |
You notice a bulge near your navel as an adult | Talk with your doctor |
A baby with a hernia appears to be in pain | Seek emergency care |
A baby with a hernia begins to vomit | Seek emergency care |
The bulge is tender, swollen, or discolored | Seek emergency care |
The bulge becomes painful or tender (adult) | Seek emergency care |
Table: When to see a doctor and when to seek emergency care.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment help prevent complications before they develop.
How Is an Umbilical Hernia Diagnosed?
An umbilical hernia is typically diagnosed during a physical exam. The doctor examines the area around the navel and gently checks the bulge.
Sometimes imaging is added:
Test | Why It Is Used |
Abdominal ultrasound | Screens for complications |
CT scan | Screens for complications |
Table: Diagnostic tests for umbilical hernia.
Two things a doctor may do — that you should not: During the exam, a doctor may gently push the bulge back into the abdomen. Do not try this yourself. And while taping a coin over the bulge used to be an old remedy, it does not help — and germs can accumulate under the tape, causing infection.
How Is an Umbilical Hernia Treated?
Babies: most close on their own
Most umbilical hernias in babies close on their own by age 1 or 2. Some remain open into the fifth year of life or longer. Watchful waiting is the usual approach during this window.
Children: when surgery is needed
For children, surgery is typically reserved for hernias that meet specific criteria:
Reason for Children's Surgery | Detail |
Painful hernia | Causes discomfort |
Larger than 1/4 to 3/4 inch (1–2 cm) | Exceeds the typical self-closing size |
Large and not shrinking | Has not decreased in size over the first two years |
Still open by age 5 | Has not disappeared by the fifth year |
Trapped or blocking the intestine | Emergency repair required |
Table: When umbilical hernia surgery is typically recommended for children.
Adults: surgery is typically recommended
For adults, surgery is typically recommended to avoid complications — especially if the hernia gets bigger or becomes painful.
What the surgery involves: The surgeon makes a small incision near the bellybutton. The herniated tissue is returned to the abdominal cavity, and the opening in the abdominal wall is stitched closed. In adults, mesh is often used to strengthen the abdominal wall.
Conclusion
An umbilical hernia is one of the most common childhood findings — and one of the most reassuring. In babies, the soft bellybutton bulge usually closes on its own by age 1 or 2, requiring nothing more than watchful waiting. In adults, the same condition is more likely to need repair, and surgery is a routine, well-established treatment.
The key is knowing when the situation changes. If the bulge becomes painful or tender — or if a baby with a hernia appears to be in pain, begins vomiting, or shows swelling or discoloration at the site — seek emergency care promptly.
Ready to know what your doctor will ask? Download the full appointment-prep checklist below, or keep reading for the most common questions parents and adults ask about umbilical hernias.
Preparing for Your Appointment
To make the most of your visit, prepare ahead of time.
What you can do before the appointment:
Preparation Step | Why It Helps |
List the signs and symptoms, and how long they have been present | Gives the doctor a clear timeline |
Bring a photo of the hernia | Useful if the bulge is not always visible |
Write down key medical information | Includes other health problems and medication names |
Write down your questions | Ensures nothing important is missed |
Table: How to prepare for an umbilical hernia appointment.
Questions to ask your doctor:
Is the swelling near my or my child's bellybutton an umbilical hernia?
Is the defect large enough to require surgery?
Are any tests needed to diagnose the swelling?
What treatment approach do you recommend, if any?
Might surgery become an option if the hernia doesn't get better?
How often should I or my child be seen for follow-up exams?
Is there any risk of complications from this hernia?
What emergency signs and symptoms should I watch for at home?
Do you recommend any activity restrictions?
Should a specialist be consulted?
Questions your doctor is likely to ask you:
When did you first notice the problem?
Has it gotten worse over time?
Are you or your child in pain?
Have you or your child vomited?
If you're affected: do your hobbies or work involve heavy lifting or straining?
Have you or your child recently gained a lot of weight?
Have you or your child recently been treated for another medical condition?
Do you or your child have a chronic cough?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is an umbilical hernia? An umbilical hernia is a condition in which part of the intestine bulges through an opening in the abdominal muscles near the bellybutton. It appears as a soft swelling or bulge at the navel.
Q2: Does an umbilical hernia in a baby go away on its own? Most umbilical hernias in babies close on their own by age 1 or 2. Some remain open into the fifth year of life or longer.
Q3: Is an umbilical hernia in a baby painful? Children's umbilical hernias are usually painless. In adults, the condition may cause abdominal discomfort.
Q4: What causes an umbilical hernia in babies? During gestation, the umbilical cord passes through a small opening in the baby's abdominal muscles. This opening normally closes just after birth. If the muscles do not join completely, a hernia may appear at birth or later.
Q5: When does a baby's umbilical hernia need surgery? Surgery is typically considered when the hernia is painful, larger than about 1/4 to 3/4 inch (1–2 cm), large and not shrinking over the first two years, still open by age 5, or trapped or blocking the intestine.
Q6: Why do adults need surgery more often than children? Adult umbilical hernias are more likely to need surgical repair to avoid complications, especially if the hernia gets bigger or becomes painful. Adults are somewhat more likely than children to experience intestinal blockage.
Q7: Can an umbilical hernia become dangerous? Complications are rare in children but can occur when the protruding tissue becomes trapped (incarcerated). This reduces blood supply to the trapped intestine, causing pain and tissue damage. Complete loss of blood supply can cause tissue death and life-threatening infection. Emergency surgery is typically required for these complications.
Q8: Should I tape a coin over my baby's bellybutton bulge? No. Taping a coin over the bulge does not help the hernia close, and germs can accumulate under the tape, causing infection.
References
Health information, not medical advice. This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your own health, and seek emergency care for urgent symptoms.
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