Pregnant? Here’s What You Should Know About Your Risk for a Hernia

Pregnancy is a time of joy, anticipation, and lots of questions. Whether it’s your first baby or not, your concerns include how you can enjoy the healthiest pregnancy possible and what you can do to prepare for a great birth.

Worries many women have during pregnancy revolve around the fact that when you’re expecting, you’re at higher risk for certain health conditions that can lead to complications for you and your baby, like gestational diabetes, anemia, and even anxiety and depression.

But did you know the physical changes of pregnancy can also make you more susceptible to a hernia, a condition that occurs when an organ pushes through your tissue or muscle? It may cause a lump, which can become visible or more prominent when you’re moving or in certain positions. 

Dr. Luis Quinones and our caring team at Q&S Surgical have treated many mothers-to-be who developed hernias. Dr. Quinones’ experience, talent, and sensitivity combine to make him a sought-after surgeon in Decatur and Lithonia, Georgia, and the surrounding areas.

Pregnancy and your hernia risk

Even though more men than women are affected by hernias, pregnancy can weaken your tissue and make you vulnerable to developing a hernia. Your body goes through profound changes during pregnancy. 

As your baby grows, your abdominal muscles stretch considerably, which causes them to become weaker and thinner. This increases your risk for a hernia during pregnancy. You may develop a hernia by performing certain voluntary and involuntary actions, like lifting something heavy, straining when you go to the bathroom, or even coughing or sneezing often.

Other things that go along with pregnancy, like fluid retention in your abdomen, increased abdominal pressure, and additional weight also make you more likely to develop a hernia. 

Finally, a family history of hernias, being overweight or obese, being an older mom, and expecting multiple babies increase your risk of developing a hernia, as does having had abdominal surgery previously (including for a hernia). 

Pregnant women most often experience umbilical hernias, which are at the navel, and it’s possible to have one even before pregnancy and not know it. 

What about hernia symptoms and treatment?

Sometimes pregnant women don’t notice signs of a hernia, but here are some things to watch for:

• A lump you can see or feel if you lay down or put pressure on the spot
• A persistent, dull pain that gets worse with movement
• Vomiting or severe pain if your hernia is serious

Whether your pregnancy hernia is causing you significant problems or not, a surgical solution will be necessary because hernias don’t resolve on their own. However, you should wait until after your delivery and your full recovery, unless your hernia is posing some risk to your baby. 

Rarely, a hernia can become “incarcerated,” and the affected tissue becomes trapped. This is a medical emergency for which you should seek immediate treatment.

In most cases, however, Dr. Quinones can correct your hernia after you have your baby by performing a minimally invasive robotic assisted procedure. During the surgery, he repairs the weakness at your hernia site with the aid of synthetic mesh.  Using the robotic system allows Dr. Quinones to be even more precise with hernia repairs. 

These types of minimally invasive procedures are associated with faster recovery and reduced pain, scarring, bleeding, and infection risk. 

Don’t delay seeking care if you suspect you have a hernia and are pregnant. To make an appointment with Dr. Quinones, call our office to schedule an appointment or click online to book anytime.