Ashley, a 28-year-old woman, had a vaginal delivery. Aubrey, her friend, had a cesarean delivery. Their relatives observe that Ashley's baby has a misshapen head, while Aubrey's baby has a round head. Which of the following has contributed to the difference in the head shapes of the neonates in this scenario?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in head shapes between Ashley's and Aubrey's babies is due to the presence of fontanels, which are soft spots on a baby's head that allow for the compression of the skull during vaginal delivery, leading to temporary misshaping. Cesarean deliveries do not exert the same pressure on the baby's head, often resulting in a rounder head shape at birth.

Ashley, a 28-Year-Old Woman, Had a Vaginal Delivery