The appearance of a newborn’s belly button, or navel, often concerns new parents, especially when it protrudes, a look commonly termed an “outie.” This initial appearance is usually part of the normal healing process as the body adjusts to life outside the womb. Understanding these typical changes helps distinguish a normal variation from a condition requiring medical attention. This article clarifies the expected look of a newborn’s navel and explains common reasons for a noticeable bulge.
The Normal Healing Process of the Umbilicus
Immediately after birth, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, leaving a small stump attached to the baby’s abdomen. This stump is initially a moist, yellowish-green structure, approximately 1 to 3 centimeters long. The natural process involves the drying and hardening of this tissue, referred to as mummification.
Over the next one to three weeks, the stump shrinks, shrivels, and changes color, typically turning dark brown or black as the tissue dies off. Keeping the area clean and dry encourages this process, often by folding the top of the diaper down to expose the stump to air. Most stumps fall off between five and fifteen days after birth.
Once the stump detaches, a small wound remains that may look slightly raw, red, or ooze a small amount of clear or brownish fluid. This area usually heals completely within about seven to ten days. Parents should avoid trying to pull the stump off, even when it appears barely attached, to prevent injury or delayed healing.
Common Reasons for a Protruding Navel
When a newborn’s navel looks like an “outie,” it is often due to one of three common, typically non-serious variations that occur as the umbilicus heals. The most frequent cause is an umbilical hernia, which presents as a soft bulge under the skin near the center of the navel. This bulge occurs because a small portion of the intestine or fatty tissue pushes through the weak abdominal muscle wall where the umbilical cord entered.
This type of hernia is particularly noticeable when the infant strains, cries, or coughs, as increased abdominal pressure pushes the tissue outward. The vast majority of these hernias, estimated to occur in 10% to 20% of babies, are painless and resolve on their own. The abdominal muscles naturally close, usually by the time the child reaches four or five years old. For many children, the “outie” appearance is a natural cosmetic variation determined by how the skin heals around the umbilical ring after the cord detaches.
Another possibility is an umbilical granuloma, an overgrowth of scar tissue that forms after the umbilical stump falls off. This appears as a small, soft, reddish or pink lump of moist tissue in the center of the navel. Granulomas may ooze a small amount of clear or yellowish fluid; while harmless and painless, they do not dry out like normal healing tissue. Simple treatments, such as the application of common salt or silver nitrate by a healthcare provider, are often used to shrink and remove the excess tissue.
Signs That Require Immediate Medical Attention
While a protruding navel is usually harmless, certain signs indicate an infection requiring prompt medical evaluation. Parents should watch for increasing redness or warmth that spreads onto the surrounding abdominal skin, known as cellulitis. A foul-smelling discharge or thick, cloudy yellow pus draining from the navel area strongly indicates a potential infection.
Other signs of a systemic issue include a fever, especially in an infant less than 12 weeks old, or a baby who exhibits lethargy, unusual irritability, or poor feeding. If the baby cries when the navel or surrounding skin is gently touched, this signals pain and tenderness. For an umbilical hernia, immediate attention is needed if the bulge becomes hard, swollen, discolored, or remains protruding when the baby is calm or asleep.