Umbilical Hernia Repair in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
An umbilical hernia repair is surgery to fix your child's umbilical (belly button) hernia. An umbilical hernia may be repaired if the hernia is preventing blood flow to your child's organs, blocking his or her intestines, or has failed to close. Surgery is usually an open repair where one small incision is made to fix your child's hernia with stitches.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Call 911 for any of the following:
- Your child has trouble breathing.
Seek care immediately if:
- Blood soaks through your child's bandage.
- Your child's abdomen feels hard and looks bigger than usual.
- Your child's bowel movements are black, bloody, or look like tar.
Contact your child's healthcare provider if:
- Your child has a fever above 101°F.
- Your child develops a skin rash, hives, or itching.
- Your child's incision is swollen, red, or draining pus or fluid.
- Your child has nausea or is vomiting.
- Your child cannot have a bowel movement.
- Your child seems like he or she is still in pain or continues to cry after pain medicine is taken.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Medicines:
Your child may need any of the following:
- Prescription pain medicine may be given. Ask your child's provider how to give him or her this medicine safely.
- Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be given to decrease your child's pain and fever. They can be bought without a doctor's order. Ask how much medicine is safe to give your child, and how often to give it.
- Do not give aspirin to children younger than 18 years. Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he or she has the flu or a fever and takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin or salicylates.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell the provider if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Care for your child's wound as directed:
Ask when your child can bathe. Keep the wound area dry and put on new, clean bandages as directed. Change your child's bandages when they get wet or dirty. If your child has strips of medical tape over his or her incision, allow them to fall off on their own. Do not let your child get in a bathtub, swimming pool, or hot tub until the surgeon says it is okay.
Care for your child:
- Feed your child a variety of healthy foods. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, and fish. Healthy foods may help your child heal faster. Ask if he or she needs to be on a special diet.
- Give your child liquids as directed. Liquids may prevent constipation and straining during a bowel movement. This will help prevent pressure on your child's incision, and another hernia from happening. Ask how much liquid your child should drink each day and which liquids are best.
- Apply ice on your child's incision for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain.
Activity:
Do not let your child play sports for 2 to 3 weeks. He or she may be able to return to daycare or school 2 to 3 days after surgery. Ask when your child can return to his or her normal activities.
Follow up with your child's healthcare provider as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Further information
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