Neonatal Medicine

The Newborn Baby Check

Cephalohaematoma

Whilst looking for abnormalities on the baby check, it is not unusual to be asked about particular findings that, although normal, may be of concern to the parents.


Many of the images used are taken from the gallery of Stanford Medical School which includes excellent images of the problems listed here and many that I have not included.

Lumps and bumps on a baby's head are not unusual after delivery, especially instrumental deliveries.


A cephalohaematoma is a subperiosteal haematoma, usually over the parietal bone that is associated with prolonged labour or instrumental delivery. It cannot cross a suture line (as it is beneath the periosteum of the bone) but can be bilateral (as seen here). It is maximal on the second day and resolves over days to weeks; resolution is linked with calcification which can lead to it feeling like there is a prominent ring of bone around a central defect.


These may exacerbate jaundice.