@midwifemarley: Babies are born with two major fontanelles (soft spots) on their heads. There are a few others but are much smaller than the anterior and posterior ones. These are spaces between the bones of the skull due to bone formation being incomplete. There are a couple of reasons for this. The gaps allow for the skull to be moulded during birth. This is why some babies appear to have a strange shape to their heads when born vaginally. These soft spots take time to close as the skull grows rapidly with the brain in the first year or so of life. The anterior fontalle is usually quite noticeable on a newborn. You may even see it pulsating at times! The brain is covered by a membrane to protect it, but be sure to handle it with care when washing your baby's hair. If the anterior fontanelle appears to be bulging or sunken, seek medical attention as it could indicate an infection or dehydration (amongst other things) If it has not closed fully after 18 months, seek advice from your primary care provider. #midwifemarley #pregnancy #newborn #education #biology

Midwife Marley

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Region: GB

Sunday 09 April 2023 08:28:36 GMT