Is My Baby Going to Be a Conehead?

Is My Baby Going to Be a Conehead?

You or someone you know has been pushing for hours...the baby is finally born, swaddled in a blankie, and handed over...WAIT A SECOND! Am I having a baby or an alien?

Fetal Head Molding.

It sounds a little scary. And to be honest, if you're not prepared, it could look a little scary too! But don't worry, we're going to clear up the conehead baby issue right now.

What is Fetal Head Molding?

Fetal head molding is the term for the way your baby's head changes shape as it moves through the birth canal. It's a tight squeeze in there. Your baby could come out with a cone-shaped head, or a big, swollen knot somewhere on his or her head (this is called a caput, pronounced cap-it).

What Causes Fetal Head Molding?

When the baby's head is deep in your pelvis for a long time, or you have to push for an extended time, or the baby's head gets stuck, or you have a vacuum-assisted delivery, it's possible that your baby will experience molding and swelling of the head. Did you know that your baby's head is made up of movable "plates"? Check out this illustration of a newborn's skull plates to see what I'm talking about.

That's right, the bones in your newborn's skull are not actually fused together yet. This is because compared to a full-term baby's head, a vagina is actually pretty small. During the trip down the birth canal, the movable plates of the baby's head can shift a little, allowing him or her to more easily wiggle through the pelvis and birth canal. However, this also means that if the baby is wedged in a tight spot for a long time, his or her head can...stick that way.

Also, if your baby's head gets tilted in there, and part of its head is pressing up against you and getting stuck, all the while your body is trying to push him out, that's a good way to get one of those swollen caputs I talked about.

But It's Gonna Go Away Eventually, Right?

Yes! Everyone wonders when the baby's head shape will go back to normal. Most of the molding or swelling should be gone after a few days. Here's an illustration of the change after one day. However, it will still be some time before the baby's skull plates are fused together. You'll be able to feel the "soft spot" in the middle of their head for quite a while! This allows room to be made for the brain to grow into its full size without outgrowing the skull.

Here's a picture of a newborn baby with head molding. Aww, see, all babies are still so cute and precious - even conehead ones.