Question
My newborn has been diagnosed with an umbilical hernia. How should it be handled? What are the precautions to take?
Answer
During the normal developmental process of infants, umbilical hernias usually disappear naturally within a short period of time, and only in a few cases do they require surgical treatment. Therefore, parents should not seek surgery in haste and should first observe and wait. If the newborn shows jaundice of the skin, it should be assessed according to the degree of jaundice: if only the face is jaundiced, it is mild jaundice; if the trunk skin is also jaundiced, it is moderate jaundice; if the extremities and palms of the hands and feet are also jaundiced, then a series of bilirubin and liver function tests should be conducted. In necessary cases, arrange for the newborn to be hospitalized for treatment.