What causes a fontanelle collapse in babies?
Why does the fontanelle, which is a very important area for the brain development of newborn babies, collapse?
The fontanelle is the soft bony tissue at the top of the baby's skull, located in the space where the bones meet. While the skull bones are fully interlocked in adults, this clamping is not yet complete in infants. There are 6 fontanelles in total, which are not very noticeable by people other than the doctor. A normal person can only notice 2 of these fontanelles. Therefore, the possibility of damaging the fontanelle by touching it is valid for only 2 fontanelles. The fontanelle, which is a very important area for babies, scares parents just as much. Rumors about babies with damaged fontanelles cause parents to be sensitive about this issue. The fontanelles, which are said to be not easy to damage by experts, are the most important structure that protects the baby's brain. Alright, What causes the condition called fontanelle collapse in newborn babies? What should parents do when faced with such a situation?
Its Purpose Is To Facilitate Childbirth
The fontanelle, which everyone who has a baby knows without exception, actually has more than one function. One of them is to make the birth easy. During the birth of the baby, while passing through the birth canal, the skull will stretch and pass through the canal, and the baby's head will not be damaged during this passage. The fontanel allows the stretching of the baby's head to return to normal after birth. Another function of the fontanelle is to ensure that the growing brain does not encounter the skull as the baby grows. In this sense, fontanelles provide the area necessary for the development of the brain with their flexibility. With the closure of the fontanelles when the time comes, the growth of the brain ends to a large extent. For this reason, premature closure of the fontanelle not only prevents the growth of the head, but also hinders the development of the brain.
Can the fontanelle be damaged?
Parents avoid touching their newborn's fontanelles, thinking that they will give it to them. However, according to experts, neither touching nor washing this area will do any harm to the fontanelle. Because under the fontanelle, there is a very tight and durable membrane that actively protects the brain. While the fontanelles are usually not damaged in cases such as hitting or hitting, it is highly recommended by doctors not to apply any pressure to the fontanel area of the baby.
Causes of a fontanelle and what to do
The collapse of the fontanelle occurs because the baby is dehydrated, experts say. Babies with diarrhea may have the fontanelle collapsed due to lack of water. In this case, the mother needs to breastfeed frequently to meet the baby's water needs. It is recommended to consult a doctor, as the fontanelle is too swollen, which may indicate that the pressure inside the baby's head has increased too much.