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Your newborn's head

Wonder what your newborn will look like? Keep in mind that the last few weeks of pregnancy and the rigors of childbirth often take a toll. Here's a peek at some real newborns so that you'll know what to expect.

During childbirth, pressure from the tight birth canal may cause your baby's skull bones to shift and overlap. This may result in an elongated or cone-shaped skull at birth — particularly if you had a long labor or a vacuum extractor was used during delivery. You can expect your newborn to have a more rounded head within a few days.

Babies born buttocks or feet first or by C-section are more likely to have round heads at birth.

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