New parents may find that their baby’s head is cone-shaped when they first view the baby following delivery. Though it can be concerning, this phenomenon—often referred to as a “conehead—is rather frequent and temporary. It is very concerning for parents.
Understanding why babies are born with a cone-shaped head and the science behind this peculiar appearance can help ease concerns. In this blog, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and process of the conehead condition, as well as its impact on your newborn’s health.
What is a Conehead
The term “conehead” is a colloquial expression used to describe the shape of a baby’s head after birth. A newborn’s skull is soft and pliable, allowing it to mold and adapt during delivery. This softness is essential for the baby to pass through the narrow birth canal. As a result, babies can be born with a slightly elongated or conical shape to their heads, especially right after birth. This condition is medically known as molding.
It’s important to note that a conehead appearance is not a birth defect or something that typically causes harm. It is a normal part of the childbirth process and will usually resolve on its own in a few days or weeks after birth.
Why Does a Baby Exhibit a Conehead
A baby’s skull consists of many bones not yet fused at birth. Soft regions called sutures divide these bones and offer flexibility throughout the birthing process. The conehead results mostly from the pressure the baby’s head encounters during passage through the birth canal.
The following are the primary elements causing the conehead phenomenon:
1. The Birth Canal
The most significant factor in the development of a conehead is the pressure the baby’s head experiences while passing through the birth canal. During a vaginal delivery, the baby’s head is compressed as it navigates the narrow passage. This compression causes the bones of the skull to temporarily overlap and shift in order to reduce the size of the head and make delivery easier.
The baby’s head is soft and flexible at birth, with the bones not fully fused. This flexibility is essential because it allows the skull to reshape and adjust in response to the physical constraints of the birth process. The result is a temporary elongation or cone-shaped appearance.
2. Prolonged Labor
Sometimes a longer or more difficult labor results in additional pressure on the head of the newborn. Particularly if delivery calls for the use of forceps or a vacuum, prolonged labor might cause more compression on the baby’s skull. Babies born under these conditions may thus have a more prominent cone head.
A forceps delivery is the assistance in guiding the baby’s head out of the birth canal using a specific device. The conehead becomes more obvious if the baby’s head is engaged in the delivery canal for a long amount of time since this increases the pressure on the skull.
3. Positioning During Labor
The way the infant is lying during labor might also affect the head’s appearance. Babies positioned with their head facing up—often known as “Sunny side up”—may, for instance, feel additional pressure on the top of the skull. This posture could cause the baby’s head to flatten more or to get cone-shaped.
4-Multiple Births
Regarding twins or other multiples, the likelihood of a conehead look could rise. This is so because each baby in the womb may have less space, which would generate extra strain on the skull after birth. Like single births, the baby’s head might momentarily take on a conical form, but this will correct over time.
Can a Conehead be Dangerous
New parents should be reassured that usually, a conehead is not a cause for worry. Natural results of the birthing process, this disorder is not linked to any long-term medical issues. Usually, once the baby’s skull bones settle into position, the head shape will return to normal in a few days or weeks.
Rarely, though, a severe or protracted conehead can raise questions regarding cranial defects or other consequences. For instance, a disorder sometimes referred to as “craniosynostosis” results from too early fusion of the sutures in the baby’s skull, therefore hindering appropriate skull growth.
How Long Does Conehead Last
The good news is that the conehead look often fades quickly. Within a few days to several weeks following delivery, most infants will see their head return to a more rounded form. This process starts as the pressure on the skull drops and the bones start to move back into their natural alignment.
Sometimes the conehead is more obvious shortly after birth and then progressively less obvious with time. As the days go by, parents may see that the baby’s head gets rounder; any residual flattening or elongation will eventually fade.
Can One Prevent a Conehead
Although the birth process causes natural molding that cannot be stopped, there are a few things you may do to assist ease conehead severity. Making sure labor flows naturally with few interventions, for instance, would help to relieve some pressure on the baby’s head.
The likelihood of a more noticeable conehead may rise in situations involving either forceps or prolonged labor.
1. After Birth Positioning
By gently moving their baby’s head as they sleep, parents can assist in the normal growth of their child’s skull following delivery. Avoiding soft surfaces and a firm mattress will help to guarantee that the head of the baby stays in a good posture. To lower their risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), parents should always follow safe sleeping guidelines, including putting the infant on their back to sleep.
2. Tummy Time
Another important habit to support normal head development in babies is tummy time. The baby is laid on their tummy for brief intervals while awake in this exercise. Tummy time helps to build the muscles in the neck and upper body and can also help lower the chance of positional plagiocephaly, a disorder when the baby’s head flattens in one place from too much resting on their back.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the look of a baby’s conehead upon birth is a normal and temporary state brought on by the delivery process. The soft and flexible skull bones, plus the pressure of the birth canal, produce a cone-shaped head that usually resolves on its own in days to weeks.
Although at first alarming, parents should relax knowing the conehead is not dangerous and will eventually fade as the infant develops. See your pediatrician to be sure your baby is developing appropriately if you ever worry about the shape of her head.
