Flattened heads or distorted cranial bones can occur during pregnancy (by the
lie of the baby in utero) or during birth. If they do not resolve quickly
after birth - a week or less - osteopathic physicians and other trained
therapists can help gently work them into place. This is more than a cosmetic
issue, because 6 of the 12 cranial nerves are involved in sucking and
swallowing, and these nerves can be severely pinched/disrupted by bony
misalignment.  Osteopathic literature is full of references on the long-term
negative effects of bony misalignment. Suck problems are a big clue, as are
plugged tear ducts.

I see lots of subtle and obvious cranial misalignment in babies with bad
sucking patterns, including this morning's home visit. The mom asked me to
come because the baby couldn't get milk out of her breast, and when she had a
let-down reflex the milk ran out of his mouth. He was a brow presentation. At
1 week of age his facial and head asymmetry was obvious to me the minute I
walked in the door. He couldn't latch on at breast; fingerfeeding didn't
work, a cup just ran out of his mouth, and the last resort bottle & teat
which wasn't much better - still very disorganized. His palate was
asymmetrical too, and tongue humped way up in back. This child's parietal
bones were underneath the frontal bone - made his forehead look like a hump
and the top of his head was absolutely flat. He hadn't stooled in 4 days.

I hope the parents take him to my favorite Osteopathic Physician to get the
cranial bones aligned. In the meantime, she's pumping and will try SNS, cup,
and bottle combinations just to get calories in him.  Stay tuned.

Linda Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
LC in private practice, Dayton OH