When Ava’s umbilical cord feel off it was evident that she has an Outie Belly Button, “no bikini modelling for our little girl” says her mum.

I had to smile to myself, as Ava looks just like her mum, there is one little thing she shares with her father. That’s right I have an Outie, as does 2 other of my children (that’s 3 out of 4 of my children have an Outie).

This is for all the people out there wondering how some people (10%) have an Outie Belly Button.

First: Where or how the doctor cuts the umbilical cord has NOTHING I repeat NOTHING to do with having an Outie, just in case you didn’t notice or don’t remember, there is a clip at least an inch away from a New Born, you the father cut the cord on the other side of the clip.

Second: an Infant Umbilical Hernia is different from an Outie, it is true that some infants (10-30%) are born with Outies. Many Umbilical Hernias heal within a year or so. However the key difference is when a baby is straining an Umbilical Hernia will swell or show, as an Outie will not change.

So hopefully I have managed to dispel two key myths people including doctors and midwives on the phenomenon of an Outie Belly Button.

So what does cause an Outie Belly Button? I hear you all ask.

It is really very simple, it is all in the stomach muscles. Most of the population their Abdominal (Abdominal Rectus) muscles are fused together down the centre which holds Abdominal tissue including the Belly Button (Navel or Umbilical Stump) in. While there are other people where the Abdominal muscles are not fused down the centre, which then does not hold the Belly Button in.
In my younger days of weight training and constant gym sessions I would of been able to demonstrate what an un-fused six-pack looks like (with an Outie).

As to an Outie Belly Button being random... yeah I’m not too sure about that.

I’m not recommending any cosmetic surgery, however it is available for babies with Outies.

There are no health risks to having an Outie, so why change it, It’s just one more thing to make her stand out in the crowd.

Class over

- Eric

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