HERniaHernia and abdominal wall care for women · Melbourne

HERnia / Hernias and pregnancy

Pregnancy

Hernias during and after pregnancy

Pregnancy stretches the abdominal wall more than almost anything else a body does. A bulge at the navel, or in the groin, is common. Most do not need surgery during pregnancy, and the question of when to repair them is worth getting right.

The navel: umbilical hernias

The navel is a natural weak point in the abdominal wall, and the growing uterus pushes on it from inside. A small umbilical hernia may appear for the first time in pregnancy, or an old one may become more obvious. Most cause little more than a bulge and some discomfort. You can read more about umbilical hernias on my practice site.

During pregnancy, surgery is usually avoided unless the hernia becomes trapped or very painful. The signs to watch for are the same as at any other time: a lump that becomes hard and tender and will not go back, especially with vomiting. That needs urgent assessment.

The groin in pregnancy

A soft swelling in the groin during pregnancy is often not a hernia at all, but enlarged veins around the round ligament, which supports the uterus. These usually settle after the birth. For this reason the international groin hernia guidelines suggest watchful waiting for groin swellings in pregnant women.1 An ultrasound can help tell the two apart when it matters.

If you plan more children: timing the repair

The clearest evidence on timing comes from a Danish study that followed every woman born in Denmark between 1962 and 1971 from age 15 to 45: more than 470,000 women. Of the 2,113 who had a primary ventral hernia (umbilical or epigastric) repaired, those who became pregnant again after the repair had about a 1.6-fold higher risk of needing a further operation for recurrence. Women who had had children were also about seven times more likely to need a hernia repair at all than women who had not. The authors concluded that, to reduce the risk of recurrence, the best time for a planned repair is after the last pregnancy.2

In practice, that means a small hernia that is not troubling you can often wait until your family is complete. A hernia that is painful, growing, or getting stuck should not be put off for years on that account, and repair before a future pregnancy is still entirely possible. This is a decision about your life as much as your abdominal wall, and I will help you weigh it rather than make it for you.

Repair after pregnancy

When an umbilical hernia is repaired, the European and Americas Hernia Societies' guidelines recommend using mesh, to lower the chance of it coming back, and suggest that most can be repaired through a small open incision with a flat mesh placed behind the muscle layer.3 Many women also have a diastasis (a widened gap between the six-pack muscles) at the same time, which can change the best choice of operation. See diastasis after pregnancy.

Sources

  1. HerniaSurge Group. International guidelines for groin hernia management. Hernia. 2018;22(1):1–165. doi:10.1007/s10029-017-1668-x. PMID 29330835.
  2. Oma E, Jensen KK, Bisgaard T, Jorgensen LN. Association of primary ventral hernia and pregnancy. Ann Surg. 2020;272(1):170–6. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000003170. PMID 30601261.
  3. Henriksen NA, Montgomery A, Kaufmann R, Berrevoet F, East B, Fischer J, Hope W, Klassen D, Lorenz R, Renard Y, Garcia Urena MA, Simons MP; European and Americas Hernia Societies (EHS and AHS). Guidelines for treatment of umbilical and epigastric hernias from the European Hernia Society and Americas Hernia Society. Br J Surg. 2020;107(3):171–90. doi:10.1002/bjs.11489. PMID 31916607.

Questions women ask me

Is it dangerous to have a hernia while pregnant?

Most hernias in pregnancy cause a bulge and some discomfort but no harm. The concern is a hernia becoming trapped, which is uncommon. A hernia that becomes hard, tender and irreducible, especially with vomiting, needs urgent medical assessment.

Should I wait until I have finished having children?

If the hernia is small and not troubling you, waiting is often reasonable, because a later pregnancy raises the risk of the hernia coming back. If it is painful, enlarging or getting stuck, repair sooner is usually the better choice. This is worth discussing in person.

Can I get pregnant after a hernia repair with mesh?

Yes. Women do have pregnancies after mesh repairs. A subsequent pregnancy does raise the chance of the hernia recurring, which is part of the conversation about timing.

Seeing me

HERnia is the name I give to the care of women with hernias and abdominal wall problems. Appointments are made through my practice, and consultations are in Balwyn North, Coburg and Williamstown. A referral from your GP is needed for a specialist consultation to attract a Medicare rebate.

Request an appointmentCall (+61) 493 091 911

Written and reviewed by Prof. Ramana Balasubramaniam, general surgeon, Melbourne. Last reviewed 31 October 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot replace an examination. If you have a painful, hard lump that will not go back, with vomiting or severe pain, go to your nearest emergency department.