Some important factors in the molding of the fetal head during vaginal delivery ‐ A photographic study

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Molding of the fetal head was studied in 319 vaginal deliveries. A photographic method was used to document the size and form of the infants'' heads immediately postpartum and 3 days later. Six different diameters were measured but only 3 changed significantly during early neonatal restitution. A molding index was calculated and compared with the conventional occipitofrontal circumference. Infants born to primiparous women showed significantly higher degrees of molding of the head than those born to multiparous women. Oxytocin stimulation during labor and instrumental deliveries resulted in increased fetal head molding. Importance of fetal presentation at birth, duration of labor, age of the mother and infant birth weight were also analyzed with regard to molding of the fetal skull during labor.