Vacuum-assisted delivery and head bumps — when does it become a real concern?

Posting as Porter Law Group, NY — medical info only.

Vacuum extraction uses a suction cup on the baby's head to help guide delivery, and it's used in roughly 3% of vaginal births in the U.S. Most resulting bumps (cephalohematomas) resolve on their own. The complication actually worth watching for is a subgaleal hemorrhage which is rare, but it can escalate quickly (rapidly spreading scalp swelling, pale/blue skin, poor feeding), and same-day medical attention is needed if you see those signs.

More on what's normal vs. what's not: Vacuum Extraction Complications