By Dr. Kristin Hutchinson, General Booth Pediatrics
If your baby is born with a slightly misshapen head, don’t panic. It’s actually quite common. A baby’s head is made up of soft bony plates that are designed to compress and overlap to fit through the narrow birth canal. It’s a process known as molding.
Parents often dream of their new little one arriving with picture-perfect looks. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes when a baby drops lower in the mother’s pelvis far in advance of being born, or when they’re born after a long labor or through an extra-narrow birth canal, their head may resemble a cone rather than a nice round ball.
Here’s the good news: Within weeks after your baby is born, their head will round out. Be sure your baby doesn’t spend too much time on their back with their head in any one position. This may cause a positional skull deformity know as plagiocephaly. The condition does not affect brain growth or development and usually does not require medical intervention. Plagiocephaly may go away when your baby starts to sit up. For more severe cases, your baby’s pediatrician may recommend treatment.
If you run your fingers over your baby’s head, you’ll notice two areas that are lacking bony protection. These soft spots are normal and will grow rapidly throughout the first few months as your baby’s brain continues to develop. If your baby’s soft spot seems to be pulsating, there is no need to worry. This is normal and simply reflects your child’s heartbeat.
If your baby was born with a misshapen head, you may also notice a bit of swelling and bruising. This is known as cephalohematoma and is caused by the intense pressure on the head during labor and delivery. While not serious, cephalohematoma does represent bleeding along the outer side of the skull and may take up to 10 weeks to disappear.
The best time to check your baby’s head is after a bath. Several weeks after birth, your baby’s head should be round and their ears should be even. Also check to make sure your baby’s head and forehead appear balanced. If you notice any changes or have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.
