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The fontanel is pulsating at the breast, why, reasons, what to do
At birth, the baby has 2 fontanelles on its head. The small fontanelle is located in the parietal region, it is almost invisible and closes during the first 2 months. The second is large, located between the parietal and frontal bones. It closes completely in 1 to 2 years. He must be checked by a pediatrician at every visit, as he can say a lot about the baby’s health.
If the fontanelle pulsates at the breast – what does it mean
In fact, this is the junction between the bones of the skull, which helps to pass the birth canal at birth and not be injured. It is tightened with a thin membrane. From time to time, parents may notice that this place on the child’s head is throbbing. This is normal and natural.
The fontanelle near the breast throbs more strongly during crying or physical activity
Why pulsating movements occur:
- The septum moves to the beat of the heart as blood flows to the brain.
- Another reason is the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid under the influence of the pulsation of the blood vessels.
Both of these phenomena do not require treatment and will not bother you after the fontanelle is overgrown.
Its fluctuations are most noticeable in the first months of a baby’s life. At any time, you can put your hand to this place and feel them. The movements intensify and become visually noticeable during and after the crying of the child, with physical activity.
The fontanelle can also tell about health problems. What to do in such cases? An urgent need to visit a pediatrician if the following is observed:
- Falling inward. This can indicate dehydration and occurs in extreme heat or in case of digestive disorders such as diarrhea and vomiting.
- Bulging of the septum over the bone. This may indicate serious diseases – meningitis, tumor formation, hydrocephalus. The child may have high intracranial pressure. A concomitant symptom may be convulsions.
- Uneven, intermittent pulsation indicates problems of the cardiovascular system. It is necessary to undergo a cardiologist’s examination and do an ultrasound scan to exclude the option of congenital heart defects.
- It is also worth doing with too intense pulsation, when the child is at rest. This is also a sign of heart problems.
Until the fontanelle is overgrown, doctors often take advantage of such an opportunity as an ultrasound of the brain. It is so easy to check for the presence of neurological or physiological pathologies. After overgrowing, such a procedure becomes impossible.