How many months does it take for a newborn’s head to form? Correct and irregular shape of the skull of a newborn baby, types of head deformation - what is pathology

Hello. I’ve already created a topic here about neighbors’ dogs, how to keep them away. In the fall, in September, a neighbor’s dog killed our kitten, in the middle of the day, one might say, in front of the neighbor (the dog’s owner) and ours (my son and I saw it). We simply didn’t have time to do anything, how much does a 3 month old kitten need? At that time, I expressed a lot of things to my neighbors because of their dogs. They apologized, promised to look after them, but at the same time the phrase was said: hunting dogs (ordinary mongrels at the same time) will still attack cats, they called it happy (((
Honestly, I didn't want to more cats to get one, but in October for my daughter’s birthday they brought her a kitten as a gift.. There is a litter box at home and the cat goes there, but only for small periods, but for the most part she is used to going outside. They let her out and looked after her all the time. And then that week, the neighbor’s dog jumped over the snowdrifts into our yard and grabbed the cat right on the porch. At that time I was hanging out laundry to dry under the canopy, he didn’t see me, but I didn’t see/hear him right away either - he attacked without a sound. I jumped out at the cat’s squeal. I fought it off, while he slashed his teeth along the sleeve of my jacket and tore my sleeve. When I calmed and treated the cat a little and calmed down myself, I went to the neighbors and said I would complain. The weekend passed, they did not take any measures (the dog was running along the street and continues to run). Today I wrote a complaint to the local police officer, but I was struck by his words, saying that we cannot take any measures against the dog’s owner, there is no punishment or fine for this. Only if you go further and sue them for material and moral damage. But I don’t want to go to court over a cat and a torn sleeve. Are there really no laws so that the local police officer, relying on them, can somehow influence the owners of dogs who strangle cats while walking on their own and in other people’s yards? In general, I wrote a lot, just if you’re going to start a war with your neighbors, then rely on the laws... Maybe someone can tell me something...

Olga

Divorced from my husband five years ago. From the marriage there are two children aged 9 and 11 years. Tired of deciding and carrying everything on myself family problems, and besides, my husband started going for walks. I left him, as they say, “with one knot”... All this time I was organizing a house from scratch, paying off three loans, raising children, it wasn’t easy. Thank God I was lucky and I changed my job and started earning more. Life began to get better, more or less. A year ago I met a man... And Oh God... This is the man I dreamed of. Complete opposite of mine ex-husband. And care and attention. One thing... He is a single father... His wife left him and their child and went to his to the best friend. In principle, this situation did not scare me and I thought, well, where are there two children and the third will not be a hindrance... But it turned out that everything is not so simple... I like wise woman I immediately began to look for an approach to the child, bought her toys, completely replaced her wardrobe, the poor child did not even have decent things, everything was so washed out.... I bought her a bunch of beautiful rubber bands for the garden. I tried my best to please. The girl is 5 years old... The child is problematic, does not understand anything, in the kindergarten they complain about her that she does not obey, does not want to study... At home she does whatever she wants, does not respond to comments. She says that she understands and immediately does it again!!!
The mother does not participate in any way in raising the child, does not pay child support, citing the fact that she is paying off a joint loan... Oh well, God be with her...
We all lived together for a year... I thought that she would change and we would live happily... But nothing changed...
I was infuriated by her behavior and because of this I was constantly in a bad mood, so Alexei and I started arguing. I couldn’t tell him that his daughter infuriates me... I understand that he loves her more life... I thought about breaking up, but I love him and he loves me very much... and he communicates well with my children, he goes to chess with my son... I don’t know what to do.. It seems to me that his daughter will never change and I will never be able to love her...

Katerina

Topic to chat. Do you think about your children’s skills? Will explain. A friend’s son is a couple of months younger than mine, and so she proudly sends me a video of her baby crawling across the floor like a worm. She happily writes that he is starting to crawl. But for me, it’s just fussing on the carpet))) Or he kicks his butt back, and she thinks that he gets on all fours. I'm just either too critical of my son or a realist. But until he specifically crawled at least 30 centimeters, I somehow didn’t say that he was starting to crawl. And if he sits with support on one arm, he is not sitting yet. Which camp will you join and why?

Anonymous

I got a job six months ago. The child is 3.5. He goes to the garden. I walked normally in the fall. I went out for the full day. And now I’ve been sitting at home for almost the entire month of February and half of March. I got a job based on an acquaintance, no one said anything to me about absences, but last time they already hinted that something needed to be resolved with sick leave. I found a nanny through an agency, but my mother panicked that there was no need for a nanny (my mother is also a commander), she herself meets him from the garden, but sick leave says we will sit in turns, 2 days she, three me. But often she either flies away somewhere, then she’s at the theater, or she doesn’t want to at all and everything is unreliable. And nothing good came of it. The nanny eventually found some other shift work and now cannot come on call, only on her weekends. Mom also teases me that I will give half of my salary to the nanny. I can't work normally. I don’t want to leave, because my husband now doesn’t earn enough for everything, I buy clothes for myself, for women’s necessities, plus I pay for vacation, I can save for a mortgage, we are saving. Mom realized that we just couldn’t save up for an apartment, she stopped reproaching us for buying an apartment, before this she constantly asked her husband what he was thinking about when he started a family. Although my husband considers himself a breadwinner, he doesn’t have enough for everything. And I don’t want to lose my job, experience, qualifications. It’s also very difficult mentally to sit with a child for 2 weeks. I feel better at work, but I can't get there. Only goes to the garden for 5 days and again at home for 2 weeks. I'm constantly nervous. How can you work and watch your child at the same time? How do women do this?

Health

Remember the joke about the young man who was not accepted into the army because he had a square skull, and the army did not have the appropriate helmets? In fact, most of us were born with a slightly misshapen skull. Sometimes this is because the baby's skull has become deformed as it passes through the birth canal at birth, and sometimes unusual shape skull may be caused by improper handling of the baby. Some parents allow the baby to lie on one side for a long time, and as a result, this manifests itself on the fragile bones of the skull. But, as you know, The shape of a baby's head may change as he grows. We present to your attention several very useful tips about how to try to avoid the appearance of flat areas and other deformations on the baby’s skull, and what measures, if necessary, should be taken.

HOW BODY POSITION AFFECTS SKULL SHAPE

There are two soft areas on the top of a newborn's head where the bones of the skull have not yet fully fused. This an unossified area of ​​the cranial vault called the fontanel, allows the baby’s relatively large head to squeeze through the narrow birth canal at birth. Also, this non-ossified area allows the baby’s rapidly growing brain to develop (including in size). But precisely because this area is still too soft, It is unacceptable to allow a baby to lie in the same position for a long time– this can lead to asymmetrical development of the skull.

This asymmetry can be clearly visible if you look at the baby’s head from above. From this position, the baby's head may appear slightly flatter on one side than the other. On the flatter side, the cheekbones may protrude a little further, and the ear on the flat side may look a little protruding.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THIS?

The formation of such positional asymmetry is very common in young children, especially if they spend most of their time on one side in a crib or stroller. In order to avoid the occurrence of such asymmetry, you must remember the following rules.

1. Change your baby's position periodically

When a newborn sleeps, he is usually placed on his back. In this case, it is sometimes necessary to change the position of the baby’s head, slightly tilting the head itself, or the whole body together with the head, to the left or to the right. When changing the position of the head, try not to turn the baby completely onto its side. Just put something first under one side, then under the other while sleeping. When feeding your baby, it is a good idea to periodically change the hand on which you hold him.

2. Carry your baby in your arms more often when he is awake

Try to hold your baby more often when he is awake. This will somewhat relieve the pressure on the baby's skull that the crib or stroller exerts.

3. Sometimes turn your baby onto his tummy

At first, sometimes turn the baby face down - let the baby play while on his tummy. But having done this, under no circumstances leave the baby for a second. He should always be under your supervision in this position so as not to accidentally bury your face in the bed and suffocate. If you need to leave the room for a short time, turn your baby back onto his back.

4. Change the position of the crib and the baby in it

If you have already noticed a slight deformation, for example, on the left side of the skull, try to position your baby in a stroller or crib so that you do your household chores while being on his side. right hand. When playing, the child will be forced to turn his head in the direction where you are., which will allow the pressure on the deformed side to be somewhat relieved. Frequently change the position of the crib in the room, giving the child the opportunity to explore the entire space of the room, and not just, say, you in a chair left hand. Never let Put the baby to sleep in such a way that his head is on a pillow or some other soft elevation.

HELMET FOR BABY

Usually it is enough to change the position in which the child lies in order to prevent deformation of the skull and the formation of asymmetry. If asymmetry has already formed, and no tricks have helped correct it within several months, doctors may recommend a special head bandage that looks like a helmet. This device will help the baby's skull to form symmetrically. The essence of the action of this helmet is that it exerts very weak but constant pressure on a certain part of the skull, which allows the deformed areas to be aligned.

This helmet is very effective during the period from 4 to 6 first months of a baby’s life. It is then that the skull is still very soft, the bones grow quite slowly, and the brain develops quickly. During the entire treatment period, this bandage is worn constantly - usually within 12 weeks. It is removed for a short time only to wash and allow the child’s skin to breathe. About once a week or every two weeks need to adjust helmet for baby. There are similar helmets for correcting children’s skulls in more late age, but in this case the treatment lasts much longer.

MORE SERIOUS CASES – WHAT TO DO?

Unfortunately, it happens (albeit very rarely) that newborn skull bones fuse prematurely. The resulting hard and inelastic part puts pressure on other bones of the skull as the brain increases in size. This anomaly is called craniosynostosis(premature formation of the skull and obliteration of sutures). Doctors have standard methods for correcting this abnormality in infancy. To give the brain the opportunity to grow and develop, Prematurely fused bones must be separated by surgery.

ASYMMETRY SHOULD NOT HINDER YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT

Often, asymmetry causes panic among parents. They put a helmet on the child and are afraid to touch the baby again, so that, God forbid, they do not damage him during the treatment period! Do not forget that the child continues to grow even with such a device on his head, which means the baby needs games. In order to determine how active play activities should be, it is necessary to consult with a pediatrician. He can also prescribe a massage for the child, which is also best left to specialists.

Why is the appearance of a newborn baby’s head so unusual? The fact is that the head, due to its density and size, experiences the greatest difficulty when passing through the birth canal. After the birth of the head, the birth canal is usually sufficiently prepared for the advancement of the torso and limbs of the fetus.

The fetal head has a number of features. Her facial bones are firmly connected. The bones of the cranial part of the head are connected not by dense bone tissue, but by rather thin fibrous membranes of connective tissue, which determine a certain mobility and displacement of the bones in relation to each other. These fibrous membranes are called sutures. Small spaces where the sutures intersect are called fontanelles. The bones in the area of ​​the fontanelles are also connected by a fibrous membrane. When the baby is already born, the mother can determine for herself that there are sutures and fontanelles on the head. The easiest way to detect is the large fontanel, which is located in the crown area and has the shape of a diamond, and the small fontanel, which is located in the occipital region and has the shape of a triangle. On the fetal head there are also identified bumps: occipital, two parietal, two frontal.

Thanks to the presence of identification points: sutures, fontanelles, during childbirth the doctor monitors which direction the fetal head turns and which part of the head passes through the birth canal first. Most often this occipital part, if this is the parietal part or the face, then they talk about the so-called atypical insertions of the head. This is of fundamental importance during childbirth, since how much the head is bent at the time of birth depends on which part of the head passes through the birth canal first. Childbirth proceeds most favorably if the head is bent as much as possible, that is, the chin is pressed to the chest. This is the so-called occipital presentation, in which the back of the head passes through the birth canal first.

As the head passes through the birth canal, it adapts to the shape and size of the birth canal (mother's pelvis). The adaptability of the head is limited to known limits and depends on the displacement of the skull bones in the area of ​​sutures and fontanelles, as well as on the ability of the skull bones to change shape (flatten, bend) when passing through the small pelvis.

The change in the head as it passes through the birth canal is called configuration. The configuration depends on the characteristics of the head and birth canal. The wider the sutures and the softer the bones, the greater the ability of the head to be shaped. That is, during a post-term pregnancy, when the sutures are already closed (the fibrous membranes that connected the bones of the fetal head undergo ossification), and the bones of the fetus become dense, the process of reconfiguring the head is difficult, which can lead to an increase in the duration of labor and birth trauma for both the mother and for the baby. In addition, the configuration can be significant when there are difficulties in moving the head (narrowing of the pelvis). The shape of the head changes depending on the mechanism of labor. In cases of occipital presentation, when the occipital part comes first through the birth canal (the back of the baby’s head is turned towards the mother’s stomach), the head is extended in the direction of the back of the head, taking the so-called dolichocephalic form (Fig. 1).

If the birth is normal, then this configuration of the head is weakly expressed and does not affect the health and development of the newborn.

The norm and deviations from it

During childbirth during the expulsion period (this is the second stage of labor, during which the actual birth of the baby occurs), marks may appear on the baby's head. birth tumor. It is swelling of the tissues in the lowest anterior section (leading point) of the head, often with pinpoint hemorrhages on the skin. Tissue swelling occurs due to difficulty in the outflow of venous blood from that area of ​​the presenting part, which is located below the point of contact of the fetal head with the mother’s pelvic bones. A birth tumor forms after the rupture of water, that is, during a long anhydrous interval - the period of time from the rupture of amniotic fluid until the birth of the baby - it can be significantly expressed. At occipital presentation the birth tumor is located closer to the back of the head, on the right or left. The birth tumor does not have sharp contours; it passes through the fontanelles and sutures. The longer the interval from the outpouring amniotic fluid before the birth of the child, the more pronounced the birth tumor is. When normal birth the birth tumor does not reach large sizes, disappears 1-2 days after birth and does not require treatment. It is more common in children of first-time mothers, with prolonged teething and in larger children.

Based on the configuration of the head of the born fetus and the location of the birth tumor on it, one can judge which part of the head passed through the birth canal first. With an atypical position of the head during childbirth, the configuration of the head and the location of the birth tumor change.

With the so-called anterior cephalic presentation, when the occipital part moves first along the birth canal, but the baby’s forehead is turned towards the mother’s stomach, the shape of the head brachycephalic (Fig.2) .

If the fetal head is extended, it moves first along the birth canal frontal part, That birth tumor occurs infrontal region(Fig. 3), if the fetal face moves first along the birth canal, then at birth the baby has a pronounced facial swelling(Fig. 4).

Speaking about the shape of a newborn's head, one cannot fail to mention another condition that can arise during childbirth. It's about O cephalohematoma. Cephalohematoma is a type of birth injury - hemorrhage between the outer surface of the skull bones and the periosteum covering them. Cephalohematoma is located on one or both parietal bones, rarely on the occipital and frontal bones, and even more rarely on the temporal bone. It holds from 5 to 150 ml of blood, which for a long time remains liquid. Due to the fact that the periosteum is tightly fused with the bone in the area of ​​the sutures, the boundaries of the cephalohematoma do not extend beyond the affected bone. The surface of the skin over the tumor is not changed. Cephalohematoma is observed in 0.3-0.5% of newborns.

The cause of cephalohematoma is a discrepancy between the size of the child and the birth canal. On the part of the child, these are the large size of the fetus, positional anomalies (facial, parietal), post-term pregnancy, fetal malformations (hydrocephalus) and others. From the mother's side - elderly age, pelvic anomalies ( narrow pelvis, previous injuries with damage to the pelvic bones, etc.).

The mechanism of formation of cephalohematoma is the displacement of the skin along with the periosteum and rupture of blood vessels during the movement of the child’s head through the birth canal. The blood in the cephalohematoma accumulates gradually, so the tumor, having appeared during or shortly after birth, continues to grow during the first 2-3 days of the child’s life. In the first days after birth, the cephalohematoma is covered by the birth tumor, which is also why it becomes noticeable only after the tumor disappears (that is, 1-2 days after birth). In the absence of complications, the cephalohematoma resolves on its own after 6-8 weeks and does not affect the child’s condition. With significant hemorrhages, blood resorption is delayed and can take months. In these cases, the periosteum in the area of ​​the hematoma becomes denser, the hematoma ossifies (ossification occurs), which leads to deformation or asymmetry of the skull.

Treatment for cephalohematoma is usually not required. With her large sizes the contents are removed by puncturing the wall; in case of suppuration, surgical intervention is necessary - an incision to remove the contents and the prescription of anti-inflammatory treatment (antibiotics, bandages with disinfectant solutions).

In any case, by 1.5-2 months of life, your baby’s head will acquire a rounded shape.

If a woman is giving birth for the first time, she may be surprised that her baby will be born with a slightly with an outstretched head. This happens because while passing through the birth canal, the soft bones of the skull move slightly, which makes it easier for the baby to be born.

In just a few days the outline of the head will become normal. Normally, by the 40th week of pregnancy, the intercranial sutures should have fused together and this will determine the further shape, which can only slightly change as it passes through the birth canal.

Skull shape - what is normal?

Every parent has noticed that newborns have slightly different head shapes.

This characteristic is influenced by several points:

• original head shape;
• whether any measures are being taken to correct the problem;
• Do parents make sure that the baby does not lie constantly on one side, as this leads to deformation.

From birth, the head shape may be as follows:

• dolichocephalic. In this case, the head is slightly extended from the chin towards the back of the head. If you look diagonally, it will be somewhat oblong. Occurs in babies who were born head first;
• brachycephalic. Here the extension already goes from the forehead to the back of the head, which is why the skull seems a little flattened. Most often, such outlines are found when breech fetus In most cases, women in labor are recommended to have a cesarean section.

But there are a number of situations when babies develop pathology, and it accordingly distorts the appearance of the head.

1. Plagiocephaly. If you look at the baby, you can see that his skull is asymmetrical, with sloping outlines. There are 2 forms - frontal and occipital.
2. Acrocephaly. Here the shape of the newborn’s head will be elongated, resembling a cone. This type of skull is also called a tower skull. The main reason for the development of this pathology is the fusion of intercranial sutures ahead of time.
3. Scaphocephaly. This pathology is one of the most common forms of craniostenosis, when the bones of the skull ossify too quickly. Because of this, the baby’s head takes the shape of a boat, where the protruding points will be the frontal or occipital areas. Whether such a pathology will harm the development of the child’s intelligence will depend on the speed of the ossification process.

Often, an irregular head shape can be seen on an ultrasound. Thanks to the development of technology, at the time of such a procedure, the doctor has the opportunity to take measurements from the baby’s body. After this, you can already judge whether the fetus is developing correctly.

What should be the circumference of a child's head?

After the newborn is born, the obstetrician takes measurements of his head. To do this, use a centimeter to measure the protruding parts of the skull - the eyebrow lines and the occipital protuberance. The result is a circumference value, which on average should vary between 32-38 cm. Thus, the doctor can indicate a brachycephalic or dolichocephalic shape of the head.

If the baby was born prematurely, then its circumference will be slightly larger in relation to the whole body. In the future, as he gains weight, everything evens out, unless there are any diseases. Normally, it is believed that the head circumference of newborns should be 2 cm larger than the figure chest. By four months, the chest and head will be equal in size, but by one year the chest will be 2 cm larger than the head. This is largely dependent on genetic inheritance.

For example, some races have a skull shape that is slightly larger than that of the Slavs. Accordingly, if one of the parents has such a form, and the other a smaller one, then the dominant trait will play a decisive role.

Head size can be affected by intrauterine development. If the mother suffered during pregnancy infection or received an injury to the abdominal area, this can negatively affect the formation and development of the fetus. And here the matter concerns not only appearance, but also psychological and mental development. The same problem is provoked by genetic heredity to diseases. Especially if someone in the family had problems with it. A newborn may also have problems due to the fact that the mother was careless about her pregnancy - she drank, smoked, and dressed inappropriately for the weather.

Due to the fact that due to modern image life, many children are born with some kind of disease, doctors strongly recommend planning a pregnancy. That is, the couple needs to undergo a series of tests that will identify potential dangers. After all, if a child is born with a pathology, then it is almost impossible to correct this shape of the baby’s head. Only dolichocephalic and brachycephalic forms of the head can be corrected.

This is why a mother must control her baby, especially if his head was “wrong” at birth.

Pediatric pathology

Each trimester of pregnancy has its own norms for fetal development. That is why the expectant mother is forced to go and take tests and undergo examinations so much. One of these control points is ultrasound examination.

Pathology is determined by the size of the head, which should have its own standards for each month of life. Normally, the baby gains 1.5 - 2 cm every month.

Otherwise, newborns are diagnosed with the following:

• microcephaly. The skull is smaller in size in relation to the child's body. This pathology occurs against the background of disorders in the brain, which lead to inhibition or complete cessation of growth. This can occur due to heredity, complications during pregnancy, due to disorders in endocrine system from the expectant mother. The result is dementia and neurological disorders;
• macrocephaly. In this case, the newborn has cerebral hypertrophy, but there is no dropsy. This problem can be observed in the womb, or it can manifest itself up to 2 years. But here the child does not suffer from dementia and often develops at the same level as his peers. In such a baby, the head is no different from the others, the only difference is that the fontanel will heal later than in other babies. But such children are prone to intracranial pressure, frequent headaches and cramps;
• hydrocephalus. This diagnosis is made if there are problems with the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. In this case, there is constant pressure on the brain, and since the bones of the skull have not yet fused, they begin to move apart to weaken it. Thus, there will be an increase in the size of the head, mainly in the frontal and occipital parts.

In newborns, the outline of the head may change due to birth injuries. Normally, it should be slightly elongated, especially if the baby was born naturally without caesarean section. But, if the baby has a birth tumor or cephalohematoma, this can significantly affect appearance child.

You saw your first baby, your joy knows no bounds. However, what is it? Have you noticed that form Your baby's head is not round at all. But don’t worry ahead of time. Form heads in babies just born, it can be different: elongated, slightly flattened, ovoid - and all this is the norm.

To the moment birth The baby's skull bones are weak because they harden during the first year of life. And the seams located between these bones, not yet overgrown. When born, the bones seem to overlap each other, which allows the baby to move faster and easier. birth canals. It is for this reason that when natural childbirth babies have a little head extended, and in children born by caesarean section, it is even and round shape. Due to the difficulties of moving through the birth canal, the baby may be born with an asymmetrical head, and in some cases even with bump called cephalohematoma or edema.

Many parents They are surprised that the child has such a big head. Compared with sizes body, it is actually quite large - at birth, the newborn’s head is two centimeters larger than the chest. However, there are cases when these sizes increase several times. This is caused by the accumulation of spinal cord in the cranial cavity liquids. Doctors call this deviation hydrocephalus, and it occurs if during the period of bearing a child future mom picked up dangerous infection. If the baby's head is much smaller sizes bodies, then this is most likely microcephaly. A child can inherit such features of the head shape from his parents.

When will the head shape become correct?

Form alignment occurs from the first days life baby. This process can take up to a year. What should parents do to help their baby cope with this faster?

First of all, a child needs a caring care. If the baby is on his back for a long time, this can lead to back of the head will acquire flat shape. That is why mom and dad should periodically turn the baby’s head in different directions. sides, shift the baby to one side, and in some cases even put a special roller.

What causes an irregular head shape?

The shape of the head can be deformed as a result of the development of such diseases like rickets. At the same time, a malfunction occurs in the baby’s body. metabolic processes calcium. In such a situation, consultation with a specialist is necessary. The doctor will recommend that the mother control her nutrition. For example, if the baby is on breastfeeding, then a woman should add to her menu as many dairy products as possible, and if the baby is artificial feeding, then it is important to choose mixture, suitable for your baby.

The shape of the head can also be corrected using orthopedic surgery. pillows, which can prevent changes in shape in the back of the head and neck. Such pillows are prescribed exclusively by a doctor.

Don't panic if you see that your baby has a non-standard head shape. Talk to your doctor about this, who will explain the reasons deformation and will help you choose the therapy that will quickly and painlessly help correct the problem that has arisen problem.