#18
Baby's 'Protruding Navel'
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![Unrelated to 'Protruding Navel' The umbilical cord plays an important role in connecting babies Unrelated to 'Protruding Navel' The umbilical cord plays an important role in connecting babies](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0049/3761/3402/files/midwife_018_img1.jpg?v=1721267766)
Unrelated to 'Protruding Navel'The umbilical cord plays an important role in connecting babies
Some people may think that the 'Protruding Navel' or protruding navel, is determined by the way the umbilical cord is cut....
The umbilical cord plays an important role in connecting the placenta and the baby during pregnancy. The umbilical cord, officially called the umbilical cord, has two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein, for a total of three blood vessels. The arteries carry nutrients and oxygen to the baby, while the baby's waste products and carbon dioxide are carried to the mother's side through the vein.
The average length of the umbilical cord is about 50 cm, but if it is too long, it can become entangled in the baby's neck and body, and knots can form. On the other hand, if it is too short, the baby may not be able to descend into the birth canal, or the placenta may be pulled out before birth, both of which are risks.
Once the baby is born, the placenta and umbilical cord finish their roles. Once the birth is heard, the umbilical cord is cut, usually by the doctor or midwife who picked up the baby. In doing so, the cord is not cut at the very edge of the cord close to the belly. It is clipped a few centimeters away from the belly and cut with scissors specially designed to cut the umbilical cord.
The remaining portion of the umbilical cord attached to the baby's stomach dries and naturally falls off from the base of the cord at about 7 to 10 days after birth, depending on the individual. It is sometimes kept in a paulownia wood box as a keepsake.
Therefore, the way the umbilical cord is cut does not necessarily result in a 'Protruding Navel'.
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![The navel, which is supposed to be indented What causes 'Protruding Navel'? The navel, which is supposed to be indented What causes 'Protruding Navel'?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0049/3761/3402/files/midwife_018_img2.jpg?v=1721269370)
The navel, which is supposed to be indentedWhat causes 'Protruding Navel'?
《 What is the navel? 》
'Protruding Navel' is a condition in which the navel, which should be indented, has protruded.
Normally, the navel is covered by hard tissue, most often scar tissue or fascia, which covers the hole in the umbilical cord. However, the covered tissue does not have fat or muscle attached to it, thus creating an indentation that becomes the 'navel'.
So what causes 'Protruding Navel'??
There are two types of 'Protruding Navel' that cause the navel to protrude.
- ● Umbilical protrusion
Umbilical protrusion is simply a condition in which only the skin protrudes and the center of the navel is raised. This is caused by scar tissue, the navel tissue, pushing up against the skin and causing it to protrude. The cause may be that the wound after severing the umbilical cord has swollen or bulged before it has completely dried and is no longer indented.
- ● Umbilical hernia
An umbilical hernia is an open navel with the internal organs wrapped in the peritoneum protruding. This is due to the fact that before the navel was fully formed, the intestines popped out through a gap in the muscles when the abdomen was strained and did not retract. In the case of an umbilical hernia, there is no navel indentation and the belly button is bulging all over.
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![You don't need to worry so much Baby's navel You don't need to worry so much Baby's navel](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0049/3761/3402/files/midwife_018_img3.jpg?v=1721269253)
You don't need to worry so muchBaby's navel
How do you cure 'Protruding Navel' in babies?
It is said that there is no need to rush into surgery because 90% of babies will have a naturally protruding navel indented by the time they are about 2 years old.
This is because, in most cases, the protruding belly button gradually becomes smaller as the abdominal muscles develop through turning over and crawling. For this reason, it is recommended that the baby's belly button be monitored by compression.
The 'Protruding Navel' compression method is a simple method of placing a cotton or sponge over the navel and holding it down with tape. While some say that “if you start early, there is a good chance it will heal,” others say that “it doesn't make much difference” or “tape rash occurs,” and there are pros and cons to both.
In case of severe 'Protruding Navel' after the age of 2 years, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician and, if necessary, perform surgery. However, umbilical protrusion is treated as cosmetic surgery and is not covered by insurance.
You don't need to worry so much just because your baby's belly button is showing.
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Midwife Yoko Nambu
After graduating from Tokyo Medical and Dental University School of Nursing and obtaining a national nursing license, and graduating from the Japanese Red Cross School of Midwifery and obtaining a national midwifery license, she worked as a midwife in the obstetrics and gynecology ward of Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, attending over 300 births and picking up babies. After that, she established "Toraube Inc.", a consultation office mainly for women's body. As a woman's ally, she provides consultation for problems at all ages. She believes that women should understand their own body as their own. She believes that this will lead to the solution of all problems and deals with them on a daily basis.
Her hobbies include traveling with her husband, listening to movies and music, and playing healthy mahjong.
What I want you to know from my experience
supporting many mothers as a midwife.
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