An umbilical hernia is an opening in the belly wall near the belly button.
All babies have an opening in the belly at the belly button.
This is where the umbilical cord was attached. As the umbilical cord dries up, the opening should close. Umbilical hernias may cause belly pain in school aged children. It is possible for intestines or fat to get caught in the hernia, but this is rare. If an umbilical hernia is still present in children over two or three years of age it will probably not close by itself and surgery is needed.