What does it mean when a baby has cephalohematoma?

Cephalohematoma (CH): What Is It and What Does It Mean for Your Baby? Cephalohematoma (CH) is a collection of blood between a baby’s scalp and the skull. Damaged blood vessels release the blood, and the blood pools into a mass under the skin of the scalp. The blood vessels are often damaged during labor and delivery.

How long does it take for cephalohematoma to heal?

Treatment for Infant Cephalohematoma. In most instances, infants will heal on their own within three months. However, hardening of the hematoma can occur causing significant deformities of the skull. This occurs because the blood calcifies and the area becomes harder.

Can a cephalohematoma be mistaken for a bruise?

Additionally, bruising and hematomas are commonly mistaken for one another. The collection of blood in a hematoma can create a dark spot on your baby’s skin, similar to a bruise. While bruises typically appear a few hours after a child sustains a minor injury, cephalohematomas occur exclusively after head trauma.

Can a cephalohematoma cross a suture line?

Because of its location, it is impossible for cephalohematoma to cross suture lines. If more than one bone is affected, there will be a separation between the two areas at the suture line as seen in this photo — the sagittal suture separates the bilateral parietal cephalohematomas. On palpation, these areas feel fluctuent.

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Where are blood vessels ruptured in cephalohematoma?

Specific to a cephalohematoma, small blood vessels crossing the periosteum are ruptured and serosanguineous or bloody fluid collects between the skull and the periosteum. The periosteum is the membrane that covers the outer surface of all bones.

How long does it take for cephalohematoma to go away?

Over the course of a few weeks, the bulge may feel harder as the blood calcifies. After a few weeks, the blood will start to disappear, and the bulge will shrink. Sometimes, however, the center of the bulge disappears before the edges. That may give the spot a crater-like feel.

What is the difference between newborn cephalohematoma and caput succedaneum?

Unlike newborn cephalohematoma, which involves ruptured blood vessels under the scalp, caput succedaneum is classified as swelling of the scalp itself. Caput succedaneum usually occurs from the pressure during a head-first delivery.

What does it mean when a baby has cephalohematoma? Cephalohematoma (CH): What Is It and What Does It Mean for Your Baby? Cephalohematoma (CH) is a collection of blood between a baby’s scalp and the skull. Damaged blood vessels release the blood, and the blood pools into a mass under the skin of the scalp.…