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You are looking closely at your baby and you have probably noticed that the baby has some kind of dimples on its head. It is the fontanel, i.e. places where the edges of several bones are adjacent to each other. The fontanelles are covered with a hard, durable and at the same time flexible membrane, perfectly protecting the brain.
The circumference of the baby's head after bending the chin to the chest is large. Therefore, during natural childbirth, the head paves the way for the rest of the baby's body into the world. But during this journey, the head is squeezed tight. This does not harm the baby, because the bones of the skull adjust to the shape of the birth canal, sometimes even overlapping each other. It is possible, among others, thanks tofontanels . So it's safe to say that this is Mother Nature's clever way to give birth safely. Do not worry if the headof the newborndoes not look as perfect as the babies on the covers of the books after the labor effort. If your doctor finds nothing disturbing, you can rest easy. Soon the baby's head will take on a nice shape.
The fontanel must be controlled
There are a few of them. But two of them are really important: the front and the rear. At each visit to the clinic, the doctor will examine the baby's head by touching the fontanelles. It checks their size as well as whether they are pulsating or sunken. Frequent examination by touch of the fontanelles is important because changes in their appearance may be a symptom of he alth problems. It is also very important that the fontanelles do not overgrow too early.
ImportantNot one, but two
- Front - the largest, the shape resembles a kite or a diamond. You can feel them, and often see them at the top of the head. At birth, it is usually about 2x2 cm in size, but there are also centimeter-long fontanels, which are not abnormal, and it shrinks as the baby grows. It eventually overgrows between 9 and 18 months.
- Rear - it is definitely smaller, it is located on the back of the headstock. It has the shape of a triangle. It grows up earlier than the front ones - between 6 weeks and 4 months of a child's life.
Fontanelle enables diagnosis
Parents sometimes call the fontanell "windows in the head". And there is a lot of truth to that. When necessary, e.g. after a difficult delivery, in premature babies, or if there is any suspicion of any abnormalitiesin the nervous system, a neurologist may order a trans-gland ultrasound. With this test, the doctor can look inside the baby's head to assess his brain. The temporary ultrasound is completely safe, it does not hurt and lasts no more than a dozen or so minutes.
Disturbing changes in the appearance of fontanels
Usually the fontanel does not stand out in any particular way, its surface is at the level of the skull bone. However, when your baby cries, he may feel tense and throbbing. There is nothing unusual about this, as long as it subsides after the baby has been calmed down. However, some changes in the appearance of fontanelles should be worrying. Report to the doctor when the fontanel:
- pulses and bulges during a fever or when the baby has convulsions, cries a lot, or is unnaturally calm and sleepy - these symptoms may indicate a serious infection
- is sunken, especially in hot weather, fever, vomiting, diarrhea - this may be a sign of dehydration, especially if the baby has dry mucous membranes and little peeing.
Important size of fontanels
The doctor checks the size and rate of the fontanel growth, because thanks to the fontanelles and the sutures of the skull, the head continues to grow, creating space for the growing brain. Both too early and too late flare up of the fontanels should be a cause of some concern. If the fontanell, especially the front one, which is felt the longest, closes too quickly, it may limit the space for the growing brain and, consequently, increase intracranial pressure. This is a serious condition. Fortunately, this rarely happens, and even if the fontanel grows too early, there's usually nothing to worry about. But in such a case, a visit to a neurologist is necessary (a referral from a general practitioner is required for this specialist). It is also worth performing tests of calcium and phosphate metabolism (preferably in a metabolic diseases clinic - a referral is necessary). Sometimes the cause of premature fontanel growth is too much vitamin D. Therefore, if you are feeding your baby formula milk (it contains vitamin D), ask your doctor if it is necessary to add this vitamin. If your baby drinks about 800 ml of milk a day and is getting vitamin D at the same time, he or she is probably getting too much of it. And this favors premature growth of fontanels.
If the fontanel is not overgrown
The too slow pace of fontanel growth should induce the doctor to look for the cause. But sometimes it just happens to a completely he althy baby. In a fewIn some cases, the reason is a disease, e.g. rickets (but then the baby also has other disturbing symptoms). Fortunately, such situations are very rare. Warning! You cannot focus solely on the fontanel. Even if the fontanel grows earlier or later, but the circumference of the baby's head is still normal and the baby is developing properly, don't be alarmed.
Touch the fontanels without fear
Don't be afraid to touch the fontanelles. Don't skip them when washing, stroking the baby's head, applying cream or brushing - there is no reason to do so. Nothing will happen to the baby. The fontanelles are strong and will not be damaged by beauty treatments.
"M jak mama" monthly