Is It Normal for Newborns to Have a Puffy Navel?

Question

Will a newborn’s belly button retract if it’s puffy after one month?

Answer

It is normal for a newborn to have a puffy navel at just over one month of age. This condition is medically referred to as an umbilical hernia, a common congenital developmental defect in newborns with a good prognosis. Umbilical hernias are more common in newborns, and a few babies still have them in their infancy. An umbilical hernia occurs due to the incomplete closure of the umbilicus, causing a part of the intestine to bulge out from the baby’s navel. Generally, premature babies, due to their weaker physical development functions, are more prone to umbilical hernias than full-term newborns.