Some important factors in the molding of the fetal head during vaginal delivery--a photographic study

Abstract

The 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 three changed significantly during early neonatal restitution. A molding index was calculated and compared with the conventional occipitofrontal circumference. Infants born by primiparous women showed significantly higher degrees of molding of the head than those born by multiparous women. Oxytocin stimulation during labor as well as instrumental deliveries resulted in increased fetal head molding. The importance of fetal presentation at birth, the duration of labor, the age of the mother and birth weight of the infant was also analyzed with regard to the molding of the fetal skull during labor.