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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Small Child, Dark Skin On Forehead, Natural Birth. Dark Skin Due To Vacuum Usage?

Hi, My baby boy is just over a month old. Since his birth a large portion of his forehead is much darker than his face and the portion is square shape. It was a natural birth and since my labour was over 28hrs and the delivery was taking a long time a vacuum has to be used. Is the dark colour due to bruising during the delivery?
Tue, 16 Oct 2012
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OBGYN,  's  Response
Hello there,
When vacuum is used during labour, a distinct mark may form on the head along the margins and is called a vacuum caput. However such marks do not last long and even a caput or swelling usually resolves by 7 to 10 days of age.
If the extraction of the baby is difficult, or trauma occurred, it is likely to result in a cephalhematoma which is a blood swelling. This can take upto 8 weeks to resolve completely.
In such cases, an underlying fracture should always be ruled out.
In your baby's case, the mark is square shaped rather than circular. Also it has been a month now. So unlikely to be a caput. One possibility is a cephalhematoma and other a hemagioma.
Kindly get your baby evaluated with a Neonatologist for further work up.
Take care.
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Pediatrician,  Dr. Rajiv K Khandelwal's  Response
Hi,

Thank you for your query.

By your description it appears due to bruising but it should have disappeared by now. Without having a look at it or seeing the picture it is difficult to give a definite view.

I hope I have answered your query to your satisfaction.

Regards,

RKK
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Small Child, Dark Skin On Forehead, Natural Birth. Dark Skin Due To Vacuum Usage?

Hello there, When vacuum is used during labour, a distinct mark may form on the head along the margins and is called a vacuum caput. However such marks do not last long and even a caput or swelling usually resolves by 7 to 10 days of age. If the extraction of the baby is difficult, or trauma occurred, it is likely to result in a cephalhematoma which is a blood swelling. This can take upto 8 weeks to resolve completely. In such cases, an underlying fracture should always be ruled out. In your baby s case, the mark is square shaped rather than circular. Also it has been a month now. So unlikely to be a caput. One possibility is a cephalhematoma and other a hemagioma. Kindly get your baby evaluated with a Neonatologist for further work up. Take care.