Parents in Kentucky Need to Know About Caput Succedaneum

Sometimes the birth of a baby brings fear and anxiety, instead of the usual feelings of joy and excitement. When a child is injured at birth, the parents and family members are left with a lot of uncertainty. If your baby has suffered from caput succedaneum, you need to become familiar with this type of Kentucky birth trauma and what may have caused it.

MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, defines caput succedaneum as, “swelling of the scalp in a newborn. It is most often brought on by pressure from the uterus or vaginal wall during a head-first (vertex) delivery.”

Causes of Caput Succedaneum
There are many possible explanations as to why your child suffered from caput succedaneum. Sometimes it is a condition that cannot be prevented or anticipated. Other times, however, there are actions that the doctor and/or hospital could have taken to protect your child.

Below are some common causes of caput succedaneum:

Prolonged or difficult delivery

• Vacuum extraction
• Premature rupture of the membranes
• Too little amniotic fluid
  

Symptoms of Caput Succedaneum
A baby suffering from caput succedaneum will show indications of this birth trauma. Some of the symptoms of caput succedaneum include:

• Soft, puffy swelling of the scalp
• Discoloration of the swollen area
• Bruising of the scalp
• Swelling that extends over the midline of the scalp
  

Prognosis of Caput Succedaneum
While this birth injury appears serious, it usually does not require treatment and heals on its own. However, in some situations, infants have developed jaundice, which has its own set of complications.

If your child has suffered a birth injury, you can hold the doctor accountable for medical malpractice and may be entitled to compensation. Contact a Louisville birth injury lawyer at Gray and White Law at 1-502-210-8942 or 1-800-634-8767 for advice regarding your child’s Kentucky birth injury case.