Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

Caput succedaneum is a condition that indicates an infant may have experienced pressure on the head during delivery. This condition refers to the swelling of the soft tissues on the head of a newborn resulting from the pressure exerted during the birthing process, especially during a prolonged labor or when the baby is delivered with the use of forceps. The swelling typically crosses suture lines and is the result of fluid accumulation due to the trauma of delivery, which is why observing this sign can indicate that the infant was subjected to pressures while being born.

The other options, while they can also indicate some form of trauma during delivery, do not exclusively signify the same type of soft tissue response associated with pressure. Forceps marks denote direct pressure from forceps use but don't necessarily indicate generalized swelling. Cephalohematoma involves blood accumulation between the skull and the periosteum that does not cross suture lines, reflecting different types of injury that may occur during delivery. Similarly, facial bruising could result from various forms of trauma, not exclusively from pressure on the head. Thus, caput succedaneum specifically signifies that the pressure was exerted on the head during the delivery process, making it the most appropriate choice.