By Hannah Schenker
Birth photographer Kayla Reeder recently shared some photos from a birth that are going viral – and not only because birth is incredible, but because this particular baby was born with a seldom talked about feature: a cone shaped head.
It is completely normal and usually reshapes itself in the days or weeks following birth.
This common condition is a result of the baby’s head being compressed in a vaginal birth. A baby’s skull is made up of soft plates of bone with malleable spaces in between, allowing for it to move and change shape.
“The spaces between the bony plates of the skull are called cranial sutures. The front (anterior) and back (posterior) fontanelles are 2 gaps that are particularly large. These are the soft spots you can feel when you touch the top of your baby’s head.” – Medline Plus
Babies born head-first can then have their head shaped into a cone as they move through the birth canal, especially if it’s a long birth with lots of pushing. It is completely normal and usually reshapes itself in the days or weeks following birth.
This was the case with baby Graham, and Reeder says mother Nikki pushed for an hour.
“Little man was a bit sideways so Mama had to work a little harder but no additional interventions were necessary,” Reeder says. “Finally Graham made his way into the world! He is BEAUTIFUL. Mama had immediate skin-to-skin with him and Dad showered them in love. The love and adoration and relief that he was finally here radiated through them. Graham was perfect in every way. Right down to his little cone head.”
