Old Wives Tales
The collection of old wives tales below are based on my personal experience that I have tested over the years. However, I do not guarantee that they will or will not work for everybody.
Fifty cent coin myth
|
If baby has an umbilical hernia, place a fifty cent coin on it. |
Reason
To close the hernia True or False? |
Answer: False
The umbilical cord is the life line between baby and mother whilst the baby is in the womb. As soon as the baby is born the cord will be clamped and cut in order for the baby to establish his own circulation. The cord enters the baby between the two rectus abdominus muscles of the abdominal wall. The umbilical ring is a small hole (about 1/2 inch in diameter) through which the umbilical cord passes into the baby’s belly. Usually, after the umbilical cord is cut and the stump begins to wither and fall off, the umbilical ring closes.
If the umbilical ring remains open, the baby will have an umbilical hernia. The belly button "pops" out, and gets bigger if the baby is crying or straining. Sometimes it looks almost like a balloon. When the baby is relaxed, this balloon can be gently pushed back into the belly -- only to reemerge a few minutes later.
The bulge may range from 1 to 5 centimeters in diameter. If your baby has an umbilical hernia, you may notice the bulge only when he or she cries, coughs or strains. The bulge may disappear when your baby is calm or lies on his or her back. Umbilical hernias in children are usually painless. Most umbilical hernias get better without treatment by the time the child is 3 - 4 years old. Those that do not close may need surgery later.
Call your health care provider, or go to the emergency room if baby has abdominal pain, or if the hernia becomes tender, swollen, or discolored -- especially if the baby also has signs of peritonitis or shock
|
Sebastian with an umbilical hernia |
|
Close up view of the hernia |
|
Place a finger on the hernia and press gently
|
|
See how it ‘pops’ in when you press it. |
|
Let go and it pops out again. Do not worry; it does not cause any pain to the baby. |
Old wives tales says to put a coin on the hernia |
|
|
Place a fifty cent coin on the hernia |
|
Put an abdominal binder on to keep the coin in place |
|
When baby moves the coin may slip to the back and cause pressure on the skin where baby lies on it.
Do not use this method!!! |
I find that by using an abdominal binder on the umbilical hernia it prevents the hernia from bulging too much when baby cries and it helps the umbilical ring to close faster. I prefer to put the binder outside the baby’s clothes as it is more comfortable for baby. |
|
|
Fold a cloth nappy into a longish strip and place baby on it. Fold one end over the tummy. |
|
Pull the other end over the tummy |
|
Pull it firmly under the baby |
|
Tuck the end into the top or secure with a nappy pin
|
I would like to thank Sebastian for giving me the opportunity to show a real umbilical hernia.
Previous myth: Bitter gourd vine myth
| Next myth: Giving porridge to baby
« Back to Old Wives Tales list
| READER COMMENTS |
| Posted by Edyta Ortiz
22 March 2008, 06:07:02 AM
Where can I find the blue abdominal binder shown?? I would rather not make my own. |
| Posted by Cecilia Koh
23 March 2008, 01:32:45 PM
The blue binder is a folded cloth nappy. If you are member login and go to Baby topics: Baby-umbilical cord and you will see how to fold the nappy into a binder. |
| Posted by A. Amunugama
11 July 2008, 04:37:13 PM
This is true. When I was a baby gramnd ma has done this to my belly button when its poping out. Now my son is 1 year old when he was a baby my mom did to him when his belly button is popping out. within two days it went down and in nicely. sometimes these things are true. |
| Posted by CHARMOND
10 August 2008, 10:23:24 AM
The fifty cent theory is very much tried and true. It has worked for several generations in my family. |
| Posted by Leona Lim
1 January 2009, 06:47:40 PM
binders can be found in any baby shop |
| Posted by Lakeschia Reene Washington
9 October 2011, 04:51:28 AM
My baby was born at 34 weeks and she stay in the nicu for two weeks. That when her umbilical cord fell out and then her belly button pop out I don't know what to do I try the 50 piece but I don't have the blue wrap to use so where do I get it from. Her is big it's look like a ballon but the doctor keep saying it's will go away by itself. |
| Posted by Cecilia Koh
9 October 2011, 11:29:58 AM
The blue wrap is actually a folded cloth nappy. Login and go to Baby topics: Baby-umbilical cord and you will see how to fold the nappy into a binder. |
ANONYMOUS COMMENTING DISABLED Our website has been subject to hacking and robot spamming recently, and therefore we have to restrict commenting only to members. To leave a comment, please login. Thank you for your kind understanding! |