Prolonged vaginal deliveries and the use of forceps or other assisted devices can cause swelling in a newborn’s scalp. Called caput succedaneum, this temporary, harmless condition doesn’t need treatment. Rarely, a baby with caput succedaneum develops jaundice or temporary hair loss. With the condition, some infants’ heads look cone-shaped.
Caput succedaneum is swelling (edema) that affects a newborn’s scalp. It most commonly occurs from pressure on the head as the baby moves through the birth canal during a prolonged or difficult vaginal delivery.
In caput succedaneum (kuh-PUT sec-seh-DAY-knee-um), fluid builds underneath the scalp, causing swelling. The baby’s head may have a cone-shaped appearance or newborn conehead. Healthcare providers often call it caput for short.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
There’s a 2% to 33% chance of a baby having this type of edema or swelling.
Caput succedaneum most commonly occurs during vaginal delivery. It’s rare for cesarean section (C-section) birth to cause this swelling.
Factors that contribute to caput succedaneum (newborn conehead):
Advertisement
Caput succedaneum typically affects the back of an infant’s head. You may notice:
Caput succedaneum is typically harmless. The swelling should go away without treatment in a few hours or days.
Advertisement
Potential complications of caput succedaneum include:
These two conditions may occur together or separately:
Certain pregnancy complications can cause caput succedaneum to occur while a baby is still in the womb. A prenatal ultrasound may detect the swelling.
Pregnancy complications that may lead to caput succedaneum include:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Although a newborn with caput succedaneum may have an unusual-shaped head due to scalp swelling, the condition is harmless. The swelling will go down on its own in a few days or weeks. In rare instances, babies with caput succedaneum develop jaundice. Contact your child’s healthcare provider if you notice changes to the color of your baby’s skin or eyes. Your baby may have some temporary hair loss at the site of the swelling of the scalp, but the hair almost always grows back.
Last reviewed on 12/28/2021.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy