Question

A new mother is distressed and tearful about the elevated dome over her infants posterior fontanelle. The nurse responds, This condition will resolve itself in a few days. What is the cause?

a. Prolonged pressure against the partially dilated cervix
b. Small leak of fluid through the posterior fontanelle
c. Pressure of the forceps during delivery
d. The effect of the vacuum extractor

Answer 1

Option C). The elevated dome over the infant's posterior fontanelle is caused by the pressure of the forceps during delivery, but it will resolve itself in a few days.

Step-by-step explanation:

The forceps' pressure during delivery is what causes the elevated dome over the baby's posterior fontanelle (c). Forceps are occasionally used to aid in the delivery process during childbirth. The skull may momentarily alter shape due to the forceps' pressure, creating an elevated dome over the fontanelle. The nurse reassures the new mother that the illness will go away on its own in a few days, though. Differentiating abnormal skull growth from conditions such as craniosynostosis, where early fusion of a suture can cause abnormal head shape changes, is crucial. Nonetheless, in this scenario, the nurse assured the mother that the elevated fontanelle is a temporary condition not associated with underlying issues and will settle as the baby's skull continues to develop naturally.