Caput succedaneum is a condition where your baby’s scalp swells shortly after they’re born. This is a type of edema, or fluid collection, just underneath the skin. Caput succedaneum can look alarming. However, it is usually not dangerous and it will go away
on its own. Here’s everything you need to know about how caput succedaneum affects your baby’s health and how. Caput succedaneum results from body fluid building up between your baby’s scalp and the protective membrane that covers their skull bones. This membrane is called the
periosteum. Labor. Your baby is fragile. It doesn’t take a lot for them to bruise. Caput succedaneum occurs when your baby’s head has been squeezed or pulled. This is most common during the labor process. The process of delivery puts a lot of pressure on your baby. Even when dilated for birth, the
cervix and vaginal canal still squeeze your baby. This can lead to swelling once they’re born. A labor and delivery that takes a long time or that requires the use of forceps or a
vacuum suction tool can increase the risk of swelling. Not enough amniotic fluid. Your baby’s scalp may be more likely to swell if the amniotic sac breaks early during the delivery. Similarly, if the baby is in an amniotic sac with too little fluid, they can be bruised by their
mother’s pelvic bones while still in the womb. This can cause caput succedaneum before your baby is born. Puffiness. Most cases of scalp swelling aren’t dangerous. You’ll notice some symptoms, including: All of these symptoms are temporary. They should go away within a week. Your baby’s skull is delicate, but it’s also resilient. The bones are just starting to fuse. This is why their skull will typically shift back to a
rounded shape on its own without any other effects. Jaundice. Some babies with caput succedaneum may be more likely to face infant jaundice. This is a condition where your baby’s skin appears yellow. It results from an excess amount of an orange-yellow pigment called
bilirubin in their blood. Your baby’s body will rapidly break down and process the fluid that causes their swelling. This means they might produce bilirubin faster than they can pass it through their urine and stool. The bilirubin then becomes visible under their skin. This is what makes them look yellow. In most cases, this condition will also pass without additional treatment in 2 to 3 weeks. However,
if you have concerns, always talk to your baby’s doctor. Some cases of infant jaundice require treatment to prevent additional problems. Caput succedaneum isn’t the only condition that can cause your baby to have a bump on their head. Cephalohematoma occurs when body fluids collect between the periosteum and the skull bones, instead of the periosteum and the skin. It can also lead to a bump, but it’s
a more serious health hazard. Unlike caput succedaneum, it involves significant bruising and may not resolve on its own. A cephalohematoma generally forms slowly. It may not be present until days after your baby is born. Unlike caput succedaneum, it forms a firm bump that doesn’t easily dent when you touch it. It’s more likely to occur on just one side of the head. The resulting bump is often much more dramatically colored than a caput succedaneum injury. Always talk to your doctor
if your baby develops swelling after you come home from the hospital or if they have a significant bruise on their head. Some cases of cephalohematoma can indicate that your baby suffered a skull fracture during birth. This must be treated as soon as possible to protect their brain. When to Go to the DoctorYour baby’s health is important. Whenever you have questions about their health or whether something is wrong, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Your baby’s doctor will usually be able to quickly diagnose whether they have caput succedaneum, a cephalohematoma, or another problem. Most causes of swelling can be treated easily or will resolve on their own. Checking with your doctor about any concerns will help you feel confident that your baby is healthy. Every parent wishes for their newborn baby to receive optimal care and to live a life devoid of any health concerns. While modern medicine has come a long way and the risk of birth injuries is low, this knowledge does little to comfort you if your baby
suffered a birth injury—nearly 30 percent of which are preventable. Each year, approximately 28,000 babies suffer from long-term birth injuries that could have been avoided. Medical negligence at the hands of doctors, nurses and other medical faculty is sometimes to blame. During a surgical operation or delivery, all medical practitioners are expected to adhere to “standards of care,” which exist to ensure proper medical attention and protect patients from preventable injury. If you or a
loved one’s baby has suffered a preventable birth injury at the hands of an irresponsible doctor, consider taking legal action. Most common birth injuries are a result
of head trauma. During childbirth, a newborn’s head is sensitive to any form of physical trauma. As such, rough and negligent doctors can inflict damage during labor and delivery. Depending on the amount of force, the inflicted damage can be severe enough to rupture a few blood vessels, causing internal bleeding between the scalp and the baby’s skull. This pressure can come from the repeated compression of the baby’s head against the mother’s pelvis during labor contractions. The other cause of external pressure onto a baby’s head stems from obstetric devices, such as forceps and vacuum extractors during delivery. Blunt pressure from these devices or the mother’s pelvis can damage a baby’s fragile periosteum blood vessels and veins, causing blood to accumulate near ligaments connecting the periosteum to the baby’s skull. The more blood collected, the further away the periosteum is pushed, causing a large and distinctive lump on your baby’s forehead. There are 2 types of medical conditions commonly associated with damage from delivery forceps, vaccum extractors and the mother’s pelvis. Neither condition is serious or indicates any trauma to the baby’s brain, despite the fact that parents are often concerned by what they see. These conditions are:
Differences between cephalohematoma vs. caput succedaneumCaput succedaneum is similar to cephalohematoma as both involve unusual bumps or swelling on the newborn’s head. However, the main difference is that lumps caused by bleeding under the scalp is cephalohematoma, whereas lumps caused by scalp swelling due to pressure is known as caput succedaneum. It’s important to understand that while neither cephalohematoma nor caput succedaneum are serious in a vast majority of cases, they can lead to other complications such as jaundice and infections if not properly handled. For instance, attempting to drain excess fluid from a baby’s scalp can lead to infection, which is why the general recommendation is to allow the condition to clear up on its own. Caput succedaneum and cephalohematoma symptomsCommon symptoms of caput succedaneum include a soft swelling on the top of a baby’s head. The bump often lies just beneath the scalp layer and looks puffy. The swelling occurs on the exact spot of the baby’s head that exited the birth canal. You may notice some discoloration or mild bruising, or more severe discoloration in some cephalohematoma cases. A newborn baby with cephalohematoma or caput succedaneum may exhibit the following common symptoms:
Other signs of cephalohematoma or caput succedaneum include constant high pitch crying, difficulty feeding and varying head diameter and circumference structure. Newborns may exhibit symptoms immediately after the injury and up to a few months, but it should naturally go away on its own. Caput succedaneum and cephalohematoma treatmentOnce again, despite its alarming appearance, cephalohematoma and caput succedaneum are not a severe medical emergency. The swelling should gradually subside after a few days without requiring any particular treatment. Any attempts to alleviate fluid build-up will only put the baby at risk of contracting infections and endanger them further. Left alone, the swelling should disappear. When is a doctor or medical professional liable for a birth injury?A doctor can be held directly accountable once you’ve determined medical malpractice is the reason for your baby’s birth injury. By profession, doctors are extensively trained to reduce the risk of infection and infant injury during birth. During any potential risky situation, the doctor and supporting practitioners should do whatever it takes to help minimize the chances of injury. If your doctor fails to provide immediate medical intervention or puts you baby at further risk by incorrectly treating the signs of cephalohematoma or caput succedaneum, they can be held accountable for any birth injuries that result. Also, any misuse of medical equipment during vaginal delivery can be deemed as medical malpractice, and they may be liable if this results in permanent brain damage. What to do if your baby suffered a birth injuryIt can be heartbreaking seeing your baby suffer as a result of a preventable birth injury. As a concerned parent, you may need to take legal action in order to acquire financial compensation from those responsible. If you’re looking for an experienced and trustworthy law firm, then look no further than Brown Trial Firm. Book an appointment with Laura Brown, a deeply knowledgeable birth injury lawyer, and you will receive the professional legal representation you and your baby deserve.Our birth injury attorneys represent clients in all types of cases including: How would the nurse explain the cause of caput succedaneum?Again, caput succedaneum is caused by external pressure or force on the baby's head during delivery which ruptures small blood vessels beneath the scalp. This pressure can simply be caused by passing through the birth canal or the result of delivery assistance tools such as vacuum extractors or forceps.
What is caput succedaneum in newborns?Caput succedaneum is swelling of the scalp in a newborn. It is most often brought on by pressure from the uterus or vaginal wall during a head-first (vertex) delivery.
What causes caput succedaneum and cephalohematoma?Caput succedaneum and cephalohematoma are characterized by swelling in a baby's head and are usually diagnosed shortly after birth. Both conditions are caused by pressure exerted during the labor and delivery process.
How do you identify caput succedaneum?Symptoms of caput succedaneum include soft, swollen spots on the top of the infant's scalp that are 1-2 centimeters deep. This softness might appear on one side of the infant's head or across the scalp. The swollen area usually appears on the portion of the head that first emerged from the birth canal.
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How would the nurse explain the cause of caput succedaneum in a newborn to the new mother?
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