As your belly grows, it’s common for your innie belly button to pop out and become an outie, a new badge of your pregnancy. But occasionally, that popping navel — during pregnancy, or after childbirth — can signal a hernia.
Most hernias are no big cause for concern. But it’s important to let your health care practitioner know if you have new bulges or aches in your abdomen throughout pregnancy and in the days after you have your baby.
Why can a hernia develop during pregnancy?
A hernia is a small hole in the abdominal wall, which usually holds your tissues and organs — including your stomach and intestines — tightly inside you. As your tummy grows and stretches during pregnancy, the pressure on the abdominal wall increases, and tiny holes there that never caused problems before can become larger, or new hernias can form.
If you have a hernia, you’ll probably notice a soft lump around your belly button, or sometimes in your groin area. It might be dull and achy, and hurt more when you’re active, cough, sneeze or bend over.
As long as your hernia isn’t causing you severe pain or protruding out too far, it will probably repair itself after you have your baby. There are no risks to you or your baby in just leaving the hernia be.
If it starts causing you excruciating pain, or you notice it sticking out further than it has in the past, it may be a sign that the hernia has become “strangulated” or trapped in your abdominal wall.
Other signs can include severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. If left untreated, these hernias can lose blood supply, damaging your intestines, so you may require more aggressive treatment or surgery.
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What happens during labor if you have a hernia?
Most women with hernias can have a normal, healthy vaginal delivery. If you have a small hernia, your practitioner will still likely recommend you labor as you would otherwise.
But in some cases — if you’ve had a previous C-section or have a hernia that’s particularly large or low in your abdomen, for example — your doctor may suggest a C-section to deliver your baby.
Rarely, a hernia can appear during or immediately after labor, rather than while your belly is growing throughout pregnancy. That’s because it takes lots of abdominal pressure to push a baby out, which can sometimes cause a hernia.
Can a hernia during pregnancy or labor hurt my baby?
A hernia during pregnancy or labor won’t directly hurt your baby, who's cozied up inside your uterus, so a small hole in your abdominal wall has no effect on her. Even if you feel sore, your baby can’t tell!
But if the condition is affecting your ability to eat, talk to your health care provider about how to make sure you’re getting the proper nutrition, as your baby needs lots of nutrients to grow.
What are the different types of hernias that can develop during pregnancy?
There are a few different types of hernias that can crop up when you're expecting:
- Umbilical hernias are the most common type of hernia during pregnancy and occur right at your belly button,[1] when your intestines bulge through the front of the abdominal wall.
- Paraumbilical hernias are near, but not at, your navel.
- Inguinal hernias are less common and occur when your groin muscle is weakened by the pressure from your uterus and tissue bulging through it.[2]
When should I be concerned about a hernia during pregnancy?
If you have any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with your OB/GYN to make sure your hernia hasn’t blocked your intestines or become strangulated:
- Increased pain at the hernia site that does not resolve with rest.
- A hernia bulge that protrudes, can’t be pushed back in and is painful.
- Nausea and vomiting at the same time as a painful hernia bulge that’s red and tender to the touch.
Who is at risk for hernias during pregnancy?
Most hernias are congenital, meaning they’re present at birth. You may simply not notice a hernia until it expands during pregnancy, so anyone can develop one. However, certain factors can make you more prone:
- Expecting more than one baby
- Prior pregnancies, especially those ending in long labors
- Previous hernia that was repaired
- Obesity during pregnancy
How are hernias treated during pregnancy?
In most cases, your practitioner will recommend “watchful waiting,” or keeping an eye on your hernia without any treatment.[3] If the bulge bothers you, you can try wearing a belly band to hold it in, or massaging it back in towards your stomach.
After you have your baby, your doctor will give you some exercises to help your abdominal muscles heal from the strain of pregnancy. If your hernia still isn't repaired after you do those for the recommended amount of time, surgery may be considered a few months or more postpartum.
Surgery during pregnancy is only recommended if your hernia becomes strangulated and puts you at risk. However, if you’re having a planned C-section and have a large hernia, some practitioners may suggest getting it repaired surgically during your C-section.
If you're expecting and develop a hernia, try not to stress about it too much. It won't hurt your baby, and the risks to you are minimal. Just talk to your doctor regularly about how you feel and what to do, and chances are good you'll have a normal, healthy pregnancy and delivery.
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