Problems with Belly Button Hernia While Pregnant?

Hi H.,
congrats on your pregnancy! I had/have the same problem. Mine herniated with my first pregnancy then I became pregnant again last year and was very worried about it. As long as you can push it back in, it shouldn't be a problem, even if it pushes back out on its own. Mine was noticeably bulging by the time I was 12 weeks pregnant, which wasn't very cute, but it didn't bother me too much. I felt a little pain, but the doctor said it was fine. Hope this helps. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy! C.

ouch! i'm sure you know that there have belly slings to prevent just this thing. pick one up - it will be a little uncomfortable at first but is worth avoiding an emergency. your ob can even special order one if necessary. don't wait too long, the consequences can effect both you, and baby. good luck! (oh, and congratulations on #3)

hi, H.! i am very interested in keeping in touch with you through your process, if you're into it: i had an abdominal hernia fixed earlier this year (my youngest is 3yrs) and am working on losing weight so that i can conceive/carry another baby down the line w/out reherniating (though there is a good chance that i'll reherniate even w/out getting pregnant); for the fix, i opted for stitching instead of this patch they can put in, because the patch wouldn't "grow" or stretch with a pregnancy...
anyhow, you're in my thoughts while you manage both your pregnancy and your hernia!!! let's talk!
XXXOOO
S.

happened to me with first but didnt know what it was til second preg. was much worse the second time around but still able to pop it in like you and relieve the pressure on muscles. tried to keep weight gain down -- still gained about 30 -- but thought the moderate exercise helped to strengthen my core. didnt ever become anything too bad and even had to pop it in during hard labor. just eased my mind, you know. didnt want any gut explosions. unfortunately, the hernia seems slightly more pronounced now (hoped it would go away like it seemed to after #1)and i still have pain. definitely think i can not get preg again. but overall, i am not suffering for lack of treatment -- no ins. -- and think you could do ok too. brush up on the warning signs for strangulation and good luck.

Yep...those additional babies will do it to ya'!!! I was okay with #1--had the hernia but it went back to relatively 'flush' with my abdomen after baby was out (I've never had an innie, always more flush anyway). Not pretty the entire time I was pregnant (from about 3 months on), but hey, it was all good afterwards. And then yes, #2 comes into my belly and I looked liked like a turkey at Thanksgiving with one of those "I'm all done cooking" buttons. Ugly and didn't feel so good. The belly band will not prevent it as stated by someone else, but it can help ease a bit of the pain. Any counter pressure helps and Dr. recommended an ACE bandage which was itchy as all get out. The Dr. did put my mind at ease saying that if it were to rip or start to strangulate (where your insides really spill out past the opening in the muscle and then don't get enough blood flow and start to die basically) I'd have intense pain and to run for the ER. My muscles never went back together (its' been almost a year and a half since #2). My belly button is still huge and ugly and sticks out a bit past my abdomen (I'm a kind of smaller, so maybe if I had more padding it wouldn't be so pronounced?). But the great thing is that my husband doesn't care, so even though I'm done having babies, I may never get it fixed (or be caught dead in a two-piece!!!).

So of course I'd run it by the Dr. but mine really made it sound like I'd be doubled over rolling on the floor if it were an emergency, and again, nothing you can do to prevent it anyway. Kind of like how you know when you're really in labor : - ) Good luck and enjoy your babies.

P.S. My back is killin' me and I see you are a massage therapist. What general area?