Umbilical hernia is quite common in newborn babies due to weakness of the umbilical ring muscles. Some doctors advocate the need for surgical treatment of pathology, but basically such a hernia is eliminated when the baby is 3-5 years old without outside interference. If parents are still worried, modern medicine suggests using an umbilical bandage for infants in the fight against pathology, which is an excellent alternative to such folk remedies as putting a coin on the umbilical ring or gluing a hernia with a band-aid.
Umbilical hernia in a child
Umbilical hernia is a pathology that is characterized by the exit of internal organs, namely the intestine or omentum, beyond the walls of the peritoneum through an opening in the navel.
Reasons for the appearance of pathology:
- genetic predisposition;
- improper formation of connective tissue during prenatal development due to the negative effects of the environment, the use by the future mother of unacceptable drugs during pregnancy, bad habits of the pregnant woman;
- constant pressure on the abdominal wall (digestive problems, accompanied by constipation, colic, increased gas formation), as well as frequent severe coughing;
- some diseases of newborns that can weaken muscle tone (malnutrition, rickets).
Umbilical hernia, as a rule, does not cause unpleasant or painful sensations in the child, and it can only be determined by the characteristic protrusion in the region of the umbilical ring, which is easily fixed independently or by pressing on it with a finger. The condition should be alert, in which the hernia does not set, the skin around it turns red, hyperthermia appears. This indicates an infringement of the hernia, which requires immediate medical attention, otherwise it can lead to serious consequences, up to necrosis of the restrained organ.
Methods of treating pathology
Umbilical hernia is a condition classified by doctors as conditionally safe. About 20% of babies are born with this pathology, which in most cases disappears in the first six months of the baby’s life due to the growth of the baby’s physical activity, which leads to strengthening of the muscles of the peritoneum. If this does not happen, there are a number of ways that help get rid of bulging.
Methods for the treatment of umbilical hernia:
- massage;
- wearing an umbilical cord for newborns;
- frequent spreading of the newborn on the stomach;
- Exercise therapy;
- adjusting the baby's diet to avoid constipation and other digestive problems.
A bandage for newborns from an umbilical hernia, reviews of which are mostly positive, is increasingly recommended for small patients.
Indications for wearing a bandage
Umbilical hernia bandage for newborns is not so much a cure for hernia as it is used to prevent complications of this condition.
Indications for the use of a bandage:
- concomitant disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by frequent constipation, bloating;
- weakness and premature birth of a baby;
- diseases that reduce muscle tone ;
- restless babies who often cry for a long time, straining the wall of the peritoneum;
- severe cough in newborns.
Without a bandage with constant increased pressure on the fragile abdominal wall of the newborn, there is a danger of infringement of internal organs, an increase in the hernial gate. In such conditions, the independent disappearance of a hernia is complicated, surgical treatment may be required.
Benefits of Umbilical Cord for Newborns
In addition to the positive effect in the treatment of umbilical hernia, these dressings have a number of other advantages.
The advantages of using a hernia umbilical cord:
- does not cause allergies in the baby (made of hypoallergenic materials);
- easy to use (easily put on and removed by parents without assistance);
- reliably fixes a loss of hernia up to 5 cm in size;
- easily erased;
- duration of operation (can be used for more than a year).
Side effects from the use of the hernia belt include the likelihood of diaper rash, as well as the unpleasant sensations that the baby may experience due to friction of the bandage on the skin.
Medical contraindications
Despite the fact that umbilical hernia is not considered a dangerous disease that requires constant monitoring by the attending physician, it is not recommended to choose its treatment methods on its own, since each of them may have a list of contraindications.
Contraindications for wearing a bandage:
- Strangulated hernia. Injury is a direct indication for surgical intervention, therefore, wearing a bandage in this case will only aggravate the situation, causing an inflammatory process, which contributes to the spread of infection and necrosis of the pinched organ.
- Unhealed umbilical wound. It is contraindicated to wear a hernia umbilical cord immediately after birth and until the umbilicus is completely healed.
- Hypersensitivity of the skin of the baby. This factor increases the likelihood of diaper rash and irritation at the places of contact of the bandage with the skin of the child.
If in doubt about the appropriateness of wearing a bandage, parents need to consult with their doctor to prevent negative consequences.
Rules for choosing a quality product
So that wearing a bandage is effective and does not harm the newborn, before buying it, you should figure out what you need to pay attention to.
How to choose a quality bandage:
- the corset should be made of hypoallergenic materials;
- the size of the product should ideally fit the baby, not squeeze the internal organs, but also not move freely, rubbing delicate skin;
- it is important to pay attention to the stiffness of the bandage, it must reliably fix the protrusion;
- An indicator of a quality product will be its ability to absorb moisture.
Despite all of the above tips, choosing a bandage yourself is not recommended. Only a doctor will be able to choose the optimal belt model for a child.
How to put on a bandage
If parents and the attending physician have decided in favor of an umbilical bandage for newborns, how to wear this product is an important issue that needs to be studied.
Rules for putting on the bandage:
- the dressing is worn exclusively on dry, undamaged skin;
- the baby should be in a prone position;
- the hernial protrusion should be carefully adjusted, without making efforts;
- attention should be paid to the placement of the applicator: it should be located exactly on the umbilical ring;
- after the corset is fixed, you should check whether it is pushing the baby, whether it is comfortable for the child.
If rashes, diaper rash, or any other skin lesions appear under the bandage, it must be removed.
Bandage Care
For the product to last as long as possible, it requires competent care. Subject to all the rules, the bandage can be used for several years, provided that its size is suitable for the child.
The rules for the care of a bandage with an hernia umbilical cord for newborns:
- wash only by hand at a low temperature (maximum 35 ° C);
- use detergents for delicate fabrics;
- do not wring out;
- dry in a horizontal position without the use of heaters;
- Before washing, it is recommended to remove the applicator from the bandage to prevent damage.
In order to achieve the maximum effect of treatment, in addition to wearing a bandage, you should adhere to the other recommendations of the doctor: do massage, exercise physical therapy with the baby, lay the newborn on the stomach, adjust the diet of the baby and mother if the baby is breast-fed.