During pregnancy, every woman is looking forward to the birth of a baby. Childbirth is a natural process conceived by nature. As a rule, it ends safely for a woman and without complications in a child. But sometimes a baby is found to have various injuries. One of these is a hematoma on the head of a newborn. What it is?
Medical certificate
A hematoma on the head of a newborn appears due to rupture of blood vessels. This happens against the background of the efforts that the baby makes at birth. Hematoma is a kind of bruising. It is of different sizes, and appears after birth or after a few days. Doctors usually reassure that such an anomaly does not require serious treatment.
Every day the cone can increase in size due to the secretion accumulating in it. This process is suspended for 5-7 days. Education can appear on any part of the body, but usually occurs on the head.
Externally, the hematoma resembles a ball. If you press on it a little, it will roll slightly. For many mothers, this situation is horrifying, especially when the ball reaches an impressive size. The most common localizations are the area of the top of the head, neck, side of the head.
Main reasons
A hematoma on the head of a newborn is a relatively rare occurrence. It occurs in 1-2% of children.
Most often, pathology is formed for two reasons. Firstly, compression of the head occurs during delivery. The baby’s skull bones are quite flexible, they are divided between two fontanelles. This allows the head to deform somewhat to pass through the narrow birth canal. A child literally pushes a passage for himself. Therefore, the head is compressed. In most cases, serious consequences are not observed, but sometimes a hematoma is formed.
The second reason is the difference in pressure in the womb and in the outside world. The process of being born is a stressful situation for the child's body. With too sharp or high pressure drops, the vessels do not always withstand. This situation is possible with cesarean section and vacuum extraction. In the first case, the child finds himself in the external environment very quickly, and in the second, pressure drops affect him.
A number of factors also contribute to the appearance of hematomas on the head of a newborn:
- large fruit;
- a narrow pelvis in a woman in labor;
- water shortage;
- weak labor activity;
- short umbilical cord.
An important role in this matter is played by the state of the organism of the future mother. The likelihood of hematoma formation increases if a woman abused alcohol during pregnancy and did not give up bad habits.
Varieties of pathology
After childbirth, a cephalohematoma most often occurs on a newborn’s head. It is characterized by the accumulation of fluid between the cranial bone and surrounding tissues. If the bump is small, it independently resolves after 1-2 weeks. Usually, serious medical intervention is not required. The child feels well and fully develops.
Intracerebral hematoma on the head of a newborn is much less common. After childbirth, the child is immediately prescribed treatment. After all, the neoplasm is caused by the ingress of blood directly into the brain. Subdural hematoma develops in infants who are weak in health or after a difficult birth. It is an accumulation of blood under the lining of the brain. It is treated with injections with drugs that the doctor selects.
The greatest danger is epidural hematoma. The neoplasm is a consequence of a rupture of blood vessels between the skull and the lining of the brain. After its discovery, the newborn is immediately prescribed surgery. Ignoring a problem can cost a child a life.
Visual features
To determine the presence of postpartum hematoma on the head in a newborn, pronounced symptoms allow:
- the presence of a slight swelling, upon palpation of which a fluid is palpated;
- asymmetric head;
- minor hemorrhages, manifested as red dots;
- bluish skin color;
- severe pain when a tumor is pressed;
- drowsiness and lethargy in a child.
It is enough to look at the photo of the hematoma of the head in the newborn to correctly determine the presence of pathology. However, this does not mean that medical care should be neglected. If a neoplasm is suspected, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Diagnostic Methods
Hematoma after childbirth should resolve within 10-14 days. However, this period is conditional and it depends on the condition of the child, the size of subcutaneous hemorrhage. Self-resorption, in which the baby does not experience pain, is considered a favorable outcome. If this process is delayed, you will need to visit a pediatrician. In especially serious cases, a neurologist consultation may be required.
If complications arise, any of these specialists should refer the child to a comprehensive examination. It consists of the following activities:
- ultrasound diagnostics;
- radiography;
- CT or MRI of the head.
After receiving the results of the examination, the doctor selects therapy.
Necessary treatment
The treatment of hematoma in a newborn on the head is selected taking into account the overall clinical picture, the size of the neoplasm and the condition of the child. Sometimes therapy is started immediately after the baby is born. This decision is due to the large size of the hematoma, the presence of pus impurities and severe pain. In the middle of the formation, the doctor makes an incision and removes it. In the postoperative period, the affected area is recommended to be treated with special ointments.
If the hematoma does not go away on its own, but does not cause discomfort to the child, a simple operation is prescribed. During one procedure, the doctor removes the accumulated blood, and the second takes measures to prevent the formation of negative pressure in the cavity. All manipulations are absolutely painless. After the operation, at home, parents should also treat the affected area with drugs to prevent inflammation.
A few days after the treatment, the baby's health improves. He becomes more fun and active.
The consequences of pathology
Doctors assure the parents that the small birth hematoma, which has resolved independently, does not threaten the health and development of the child. In this case, there is no reason to worry.
The greatest danger is a large hematoma on the head of the newborn after childbirth. The consequences of the neoplasm affect its development. Such a child:
- there are problems with eating: frequent spitting up, refusal of the chest;
- irritability, trembling of the limbs;
- digestive upset: colic, intestinal obstruction;
- restless sleep, violation of biological rhythms;
- decreased muscle tone: head thrown back or sideways;
- increased lacrimation.
Blood accumulated in the hematoma can cause an increase in bilirubin. As a result, the child develops a physiological jaundice. The disease can drag on and transform into a pathological form. In children with ossified hematomas, curvature of the skull is often observed. If treatment is neglected, it will subsequently be difficult to correct this defect.
The presence of a large neoplasm often causes cerebral palsy, physical and mental pathologies. In order not to encounter the listed consequences of a hematoma in newborns on the head, it is important to visit a doctor in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations.
Useful Tips
After finding a birth defect in the baby, parents should not panic. Dangerous types of hematomas are extremely rare. It is necessary to undergo an examination and follow the doctor's recommendations. In most cases, specific therapy is not required. All that is needed from the parents is to monitor the condition of the baby and report if there are alarming symptoms. Independently trying to get rid of the bumps on the head is strictly prohibited.
You should refrain from motion sickness at bedtime. Once again, the head should not be hurt. After all, pathology when pressed is often accompanied by pain. It is important to ensure the baby complete peace. Pediatricians are advised to continue breastfeeding as long as possible. This approach allows you to speed up the healing process and reduce the likelihood of complications.
Prevention Methods
There are no specific measures to prevent birth hematoma on the head in a newborn. However, future parents can help the fetus develop fully. To do this, a woman must eat right, avoid stressful situations, spend more time outdoors. This approach allows you to minimize the risk of premature birth and deviations in the development of the baby. Change the size of the birth canal is not possible. If after birth the baby has a hematoma, you need to seek medical help. Only in this case can unwanted consequences be avoided.