Everyone knows that from the moment of birth, the baby's skull has not yet been formed and has not fully grown. The fontanel is the distance between the bones of the skull, connected by soft tissues. It exists so that a woman could give birth. After all, the head of a child with a fully formed skull simply could not squeeze into the birth canal.
Of course, young parents are afraid to damage the bones. The baby seems so defenseless and vulnerable, so for many, from the first days of the life of a beloved child, the fontanel becomes the main subject of concern. Meticulous mothers begin to actively monitor this place. It seems to them that the fontanel has fallen, then again returned to its previous position, or vice versa, became convex. It should be understood that the area unprotected by the bone is simply more sensitive, but blood flow also occurs there, so pulsation is considered a common occurrence.
There are times when mothers are afraid to even touch the baby so as not to harm. However, where there is no reliable bone, there is a dense membrane. It was she who at first protected the young creature from any kind of damage. In addition, the first year of human life is considered the most informative. At this time, the brain absorbs a maximum of information, so it needs free space.
A convex or hollow fontanel can be a problem and a signal for action, but it can also be the norm of development. Panic in such a situation is not necessary, but consult a pediatrician will not hurt. For example, if a baby is tormented by pains in the tummy, he cries a lot, this creates the impression that an unprotected place is being inflated. In fact, the pressure in the brain just rises, and the blood vessels dilate greatly.
The biggest gap in the cranium in a newborn is considered to be a little crown. Its width can reach five centimeters, but after six months it will begin to drag out, and after a year and a half, it will completely disappear. In addition to Temechka, there are three more small fontanelles that begin to drag in the womb. An exception is the birth before the deadline, then this happens in the first month of the child's life.
If the fontanel sinks at times, then this does not portend anything dangerous. It is also worth remembering that the little crown serves as the main shock absorber of the brain. Indeed, at the age of up to one year, kids learn to move independently, and therefore constantly fall, but do not receive serious injuries. In addition, a dense membrane provides good thermoregulation.
But it is worth paying attention to the problems that may arise if the fontanel has fallen. Most often, this indicates a lack of fluid in the body of the child, it is necessary to give the baby a drink. All such changes are best reported immediately to the pediatrician who has been observing her beloved child since birth. A convex fontanel or its too rapid disappearance, that is, delaying, can cause some concern. In the first case, there is a likelihood of detecting increased pressure in the vessels of the brain, then specialist monitoring is vital. But the rapid tightening of the bones of the skull can lead to irreparable consequences, for example, stupidity.
The situation when the fontanel has fallen or is too tense and against this background the ripple is not felt can be dangerous even for the life of a small miracle. Perhaps the development of hydrocephalus, that is, a disease in which there is an accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain. To this symptom is usually added fever and frequent vomiting. In these circumstances, it is worth “sounding the alarm” and urgently taking the baby to the hospital.
Thus, mothers need to carefully monitor any changes in the baby, but you should not panic at the first minor changes. For example, if a fontanel has fallen, then you can get a consultation with your doctor on the phone, there is no need to call an ambulance.