Umbilical Hernia

In this view, the hernia has been reduced with slight digital pressure on the bulged area. The infant is now quiet, and intra-abdominal pressure low, so the hernia is no longer visible. Parents are often concerned about the degree of elevation of the bulge, but the severity of the hernia is determined solely by the size of the umbilical ring. The visibility of the bulge is related to intra-abdominal pressure and is therefore constantly changing.

photo by Janelle Aby, MD