Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
If a baby is unexpectedly born outside a hospital with organs visible at the umbilical area, call emergency services.
Do not push the organs inward or place dry material directly on them.
Seek urgent or emergency care for:
Green vomit, which may contain bile
A swollen, firm, or very tender abdomen
Repeated vomiting with inability to pass stool or gas
Sudden breathing difficulty, blue or grey skin, or unusual limpness
Heavy bleeding, an opened wound, or a torn omphalocele covering
Signs of severe dehydration, such as very few wet diapers and marked sleepiness
These symptoms can indicate bowel obstruction, breathing trouble, infection, or another serious complication.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
After discharge, contact the child’s healthcare team promptly for:
New feeding difficulty or repeated vomiting
Poor weight gain
Increasing redness, swelling, drainage, or pain near the repair
A new or enlarging abdominal bulge
Ongoing constipation, reflux, or abdominal discomfort
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Omphalocele identified before birth needs planned specialist care, but a stable pregnancy diagnosis is not usually an emergency for the pregnant person.
Keep scheduled appointments with the fetal medicine, obstetric, newborn, and surgical teams.
The article also says
At birth, omphalocele requires immediate hospital care.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Omphalocele. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.