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Published on: 5/6/2025

Is It Common to Have a Hard Lump under the Belly Button After a C-Section?

It’s relatively common to notice a hard lump under the belly button after a C-section, often due to scar tissue formation, incisional hernia, or sometimes endometriosis involving the scar.

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Explanation

After a C-section, many women develop changes in their abdominal wall as it heals. One common outcome is the formation of scar tissue, which can feel firm or hard when you palpate the area under the belly button. In some cases, the scar may weaken and lead to an incisional or umbilical hernia, where internal tissues push through the abnormally healed area, forming a lump. Additionally, there is a possibility of endometriosis developing in the cesarean section scar, which can also present as a hard or tender lump. While these changes are relatively common and often benign, if the lump is accompanied by pain, grows in size, or causes other symptoms, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation and appropriate management.

(References)

  • Li MH, Leng JH, Jiang Y, Lang JH. Abdominal wall lump after cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Aug;120(2 Pt 2):494-497. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e318260dbda. PMID: 22825277.

  • Al-Jabri K. Endometriosis at caesarian section scar. Oman Med J. 2009 Oct;24(4):294-5. doi: 10.5001/omj.2009.59. PMID: 22216383; PMCID: PMC3243870.

  • Coste AH, Bamarni S, Leslie SW. Umbilical Hernia. [Updated 2024 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459312/

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