Bruising of the baby after birth
Bruises, which are already present at birth, are usually caused by the birth process and are usually located on the head. The haematoma can be caused by the mother’s strong pressing, when supporting instruments such as forceps or suction cups have to be used, or by unfavourable proportions between the birth canal and the child’s head. This is usually a so-called cephalhematoma, i.e. a bruise, or usually just a swelling on the baby’s head.
The cephalhematoma usually recedes within a few weeks after birth without therapeutic intervention. Typically, cephalic hematoma can enlarge in the first 24 hours after birth and palpate as a hard structure. Very rarely, ossification of the hematoma rim may occur.
By localization
Depending on the site and extent of the bruise in the baby, there are different causes and consequences for the further course of the disease. Particular attention should be paid to bruises on the baby’s head. The child should be observed to see if he or she becomes noticeably tired or vomits after the trauma.
If a fall on the head or a bump on the head has occurred, it should be avoided that the child falls asleep afterwards, as the behaviour of the child cannot be observed sufficiently in this way. To be on the safe side, if there is a haematoma on the head and severe head trauma has been observed, a doctor should be consulted to rule out a fractured skull or craniocerebral trauma (a concussion). Bruises on the arm in babies can occur and are not per se a reason for concern, because in principle no important structures can be damaged.
However, a fracture of the arm can also be hidden behind the bruise. If your child shows conspicuous signs of pain or no longer uses the arm, this should be clarified by a doctor. Bruises on the baby’s upper arm can make the doctor take notice if they are bilateral, because they may have been caused by holding the baby too tightly.
In such cases, however, the doctor always clarifies this carefully. So there is no need to worry about being accused of being bad parents once a baby has bruises. Bruises on the baby’s tongue or gums are rare.
They are more common in older children or adults. Since babies initially have no teeth or only a few teeth, the potential for injury is lower. Bruising around the mouth can occur, for example, in connection with dental treatment, although this is also rather unusual in babies.
Often when the baby is teething, small bruises appear on the gums where the tooth breaks through. The advantage of bruises on the tongue or gums is that they heal faster than bruises on the rest of the body. However, bruising on the tongue in particular can make eating and general tongue movement uncomfortable.
A bruise on the eye is colloquially called a violet and is a rather untypical localisation of a bruise in babies. A haematoma can also occur in the eye, which is a conjunctival haemorrhage caused by a burst vein in the eye. Since the baby, unlike older children, cannot report problems with vision or other complaints, a doctor should always be consulted for safety reasons.
In most cases, however, a conjunctival hemorrhage is harmless. The tearing of eye vessels can also (but not only!) occur as a typical consequence of so-called shaking trauma.
This is a dreaded form of child abuse, which can have far-reaching consequences and even the death of the child. The rapid and strong back and forth movements of the head caused by shaking cause, among other things, the blood vessels of the eye to burst.
