Hernia Worries

i just gave birth to my second with an umbilical hernia. it was not very problematic. it did get sore in the surrounding areas and i found it very helpful to pop the hernia back in. i did this by relaxing my belly -- usually laying down -- and just gently applying pressure and moving the bulge until i felt the pressure release as the hernia moved into place. it made a huge difference to do this as soon as i felt extra pressure in that area. in fact, my midwives got a kick when i paused during labor to tend to this task. i didnt want any surprises at that point, you know. also, i made it a point to exercise. figured it would help strengthen my core, and could only help. walked 3x week for 1 hour at a quick pace, being very conscious to hold my core muscles strong. good luck. i know there is not much info out there.

I had one with my last pregnancy (17 yrs ago). Bellybutton popped out and the circle around my bellybutton was bigger than a silver dollar. My mom (retired RN) taped it down with the medical tape that is easy to remove. It also held it from growing, I guess.
I was fixed (tubes tied) a few days after delivery and had much trouble with the incision site (frown, not smile).
You should ask yr doc. If nothing else, they can show you how to tape it.
These are not as bad as inguinal (spp?) hernias. Good luck.

I got an umbilical hernia from my first baby. It was ok during my second pregnancy two years later. I got some wide paper tape and put an x across my bellybutton. That seemed to help it from sticking out. It does get achy and uncomfortable but it didn't get bigger - I was very careful. My doctor had said that once my uterus came up above the bellybutton it wouldn't stick out, but it still did. I had a c-section with my second (also with my first) and I was able to schedule a surgeon to come to my c-section and sew up the hernia from the inside while I was open. They said I had about a 50-50 chance that it would open up again because the skin is so stretched out during pregnancy. But it's been two years and all is well, so for me it was worth the chance.

Hi I got a hernia while pregnant with Number 3, in about the same place. Towards the end I found it very difficult to walk far without being in a lot of pain, other that that i was ok and able to do most things. After giving birth I had to have it repaired, about 5 months later. I also have had another baby 3 years after number 3 and all was well. I hope this helps and good luck. J.

I came accross information a few years ago that hernias were caused by low copper levels. Look it up on yahoo. ( I do not beleve they are caused specifically by strain- because babies are born with them!)

Too much overload of vitamin c reduces copper in the body. SO somehow there is a correlation of these two. your suppose to take c, e and nickle together when supplementing.