It is likely that if you are pregnant the navel can change and protrude from your gut, it is what is known as umbilical hernia of the pregnant. Do not worry, it is normal that once you give birth and the abdominal area begins to regain its shape, so does the navel.
Although sometimes it may not be so and it is convenient to go through the operating room. Keep reading because we are going to tell you what it is, why you have to treat it and my experience after a twin birth.
Umbilical hernia in pregnancy
It is quite common in pregnancy, especially if it is multiple gestations.
When the abdominal wall weakens, a tear can occur causing it to push the peritoneum and go outside. Visually what you see is a bulge in women in the navel area.
Generally, this defect is congenital and it may be that it never manifests or that the layers of the area weaken and are crossed by the intestine.
Once the baby is born if the navel does not return to its natural form, the doctor may recommend you go to the operating room.
It can also happen that if the hernia causes discomfort in the future mother and the delivery will end in caesarean section, this surgery will be performed while surgery is performed to remove the baby.
Recommendations if an umbilical hernia is suffered during pregnancy
If you suffer during pregnancy, surgery is totally discouraged until giving birth but it is advisable to follow a series of guidelines such as:
- Do not lift excessive weight.
- Do not gain weight in an excessive way.
- Maintain a balanced diet.
- Avoid constipation.
- Exercise moderately.
These same recommendations can be followed to avoid developing it but it is quite complicated to know if we have chances of suffering it.
My experience: if I get to know ...
My case is not the best reference because my recovery was a real disaster. I gave birth and after five months waiting for my navel to return to its natural form I decided to consult with my GP without thinking at any time that it was a hernia since I had no symptoms. There they confirmed that it was a hernia and they referred me to the surgeon.
The specialist told me that you can live with an umbilical hernia but it is still part of the intestine that stands out through the navel and it is best to operate. So they quickly scheduled the operation to prevent my twins, at the time of six months, from starting to walk and complicating my recovery.
The operation is very simple, basically it is to open and place a metal net to prevent the organ from coming out again and just two or three stitches close the wound.
I say that my case was somewhat traumatic because at that time I maintained exclusive breastfeeding with my twins. Initially I had to freeze milk for two days in which by anesthesia I could not breastfeed.
Afterwards, I had to spend a whole month without almost moving or gaining weight, much less catching my babies but managing to breastfeed.
So much effort caused my wound to end up becoming infected and half opening. Luckily with some curated accounts I didn't have to go through the operating room again and I recovered, but I recognize that it was quite hard to take care of three children without being able to take them. That it would have been of me without the grandparents!
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