[QueenOfThePride]

Does anyone have any experience with these? I think I have one, but I told my CNM at my appt. and she doesn't think I have one, or doesn't think it's a big deal? She <i>is</i> normally very thorough and will take as long as necessary for appointments, but she was dealing with another patient with an emergency, so she was late to our appointment and others and probably needed to get back to the emergency ASAP. (Her office is conveniently in the hospital.) So I feel like her exam of the potential hernia wasn't very thorough. I'm a vet tech, so I know what umbilical hernias look like and feel like because I've seen a lot of them on puppies. OK, so mine is not very big, but my umbilicus is all the way out and there is some fat bulging out behind and around it. When I lay on my back it all goes back in and I have an innie. Also there is a hole in my abdominal wall that I can stick my finger in. It feels just the same as the puppies with hernias that I've examined. Is it normal to have a hole behind my umbilicus and have stuff popping back and forth through it? I still think it's a hernia, but I don't want to be bugging my midwife about it if it really is nothing.

 

[MamaRabbit]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/notes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="notes">: I noticed a hole behind mine (around 18wk) and it does the same. I just figured my abs were already spreading. Though I didn't notice with either of my first 2 pregnancies even at term.

 

[herbanmama]

I'll be watching this one as well. I have an umbilical hernia which became apparent during my first pregnancy. I am ttc right now, and wonder if there are any concerns I should have for future pregnancy. It's very small, and I am very fit with strong abdominals, so I feel like I'm tending it well - but it's there.

 

[mothercat]

Have dealt with several of these in pregnant women. Usually once you get to 20+ weeks and a bit the uterus fills the space behind the umbilicus and it is not as much of an issue.<br>
The big concern is a section of intestine getting caught in the herniated area (incarcerated), if it remains caught it causes a lot of pain. Worst case scenario is circulation gets cut off to that section of the bowel and surgery is required to release it. If enough damage is done to the intestine that is caught, it may require that portion of the intestine be removed.<br><br>
However, that is all worst case scenario. The ones I have experience with don't cause too many problems, other than discomfort, during pregnancy and if necessary can be repaired after postpartum. But, this is usually not needed.

 

[heathenmom]

nak<br><br>
I developed one during my last pregnancy and ended up hospitalized for it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">: I only had the one bout of severe pain with it while pg, but had a minor issue a few days after she was born -- I could feel the bulge and was in a moderate amt of pain. I just massaged the area until it went back in & stopped hurting. The dr that saw me in the hosp for it recommended a surgical repair 6 wks postpartum, but I'm not sure I'm ready to take that step for what at this point seems to be a minor issue.

 

[QueenOfThePride]

Thanks for the responses. Mine is small and it doesn't seem to be much of a problem right now. I'm just worried about the hole getting stretched bigger the rest of the pregnancy and then it being a problem after the baby is born. I intend to have a tubal ligation after this pregnancy, so I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to have the hernia fixed at the same time.