Question

A nurse is assessing a 2 day old newborn and notes an egg-shaped, edematous, bluish discoloration that does not cross the suture line. What pieces of info should the nurse provide to the mother when she inquires about the finding?

a. this will resolve within 3-6 wks without treatment
b. this will resolve on its own within 3-4 days
c. this is expected at birth so you don't need to worry about it
d. the provider might drain this area with a syringe

Answer 1

The mother should be informed that the condition is called cephalohematoma, which will likely resolve within 3-6 weeks without treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should inform the mother that the egg-shaped, edematous, bluish discoloration, which does not cross the suture line and is noted on her 2-day-old newborn, is a condition known as cephalohematoma. This is a common occurrence where blood collects between the skull and the periosteum due to the rupture of small blood vessels during delivery. Cephalohematomas typically do not require treatment and generally resolve without intervention. Therefore, the correct information for the nurse to provide to the mother would be that this will resolve within 3-6 weeks without treatment.

The nurse should provide the mother with the information that this condition is expected at birth and she does not need to worry about it. The egg-shaped, edematous, bluish discoloration that does not cross the suture line is known as a cephalohematoma. It is caused by bleeding between the skull bone and its fibrous covering and typically resolves on its own within 3-4 weeks without treatment.