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