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Innie or Outie?

Belly buttons. Everyone has one - a constant reminder that we all were once connected to our mothers. But why are some belly buttons, also called navels, concave while others stick out? What determines whether your child has an "innie" or an "outie" and can you influence it in any way?

Whether your child has an innie or an outie belly button has little to do with you, heredity or whoever cut the umbilical cord. When the umbilical cord is cut after birth, it is clamped off. Eventually the stub falls off, exposing the belly button, which is really a scar. In 90% of all cases, your child will have an innie belly button. ?

There are several theories about what causes an outie belly button. They include:

• An umbilical hernia caused by the incomplete fusion of the abdominal muscles directly beneath the belly button. The opening that results from the delayed fusion allows skin and tissue to protrude out. This often heals within the child's first five years when sometimes, but not always, the outie becomes an innie.
• Scar tissue from the umbilical cord that may form beneath the belly button's surface.
• An umbilical catheter, often inserted into premature babies to monitor blood pressure, draw blood and administer medication.
• Extra skin that is left behind after the umbilical cord falls off.

In some cases, an outie will turn into an innie. Other times, an outie will just stay an outie. There really are no medical concerns with leaving an outie an outie. Cosmetic surgery to change an outie to an innie is gaining some popularity. However, it's always best to encourage your child to embrace who they are, and to feel good about themselves, despite their differences from others, including whether they have an innie or outie belly button!