If there is bleeding on the first scan, extra scans may be organised to check for this fluid build-up. All rights reserved. I would agree that if your doctor didn't seemed concerned, and didn't propose any additional follow-up then you should try not to worry (easier said than done, I know!). If doctor didn't seem immediately concerned then you shouldn't be either. I have just been besides myself since googling the meaning of the BPD and HC measurements with worry. Netdoctor participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. She said it was still within the normal range - but on the tail end of normal. All the other measuement on you LO look great also! My baby's head circumference and BPD are measuring at 5th percentile which is very small. A. Annie'sLuckyMommy. In the meantime, if it turns out that the baby's head is not growing at the same rate as the rest of its body, what are the possible causes of this and the implications? My midwife said that a head measurement through an ultrasound isn't defiant. Any one esle experience this? You would have to go to an MFM or peri for that. Preterm babies have an increased risk of changes within the brain and nearby structures. I'm assuming you did anonymous de but would your clinic be able to contact the donor and ask the questions maybe?? This freaked me out a bit. 20052023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. If things are growing steadily, and it's just a smaller head than average (but not a health concern for your baby), I would try not to worry. She has not identified any other issues and baby is still growing so that's also seen to be positive. This can be very normal. Sometimes a baby has a head ultrasound for another reason and your babys doctor will explain this to you. hc: 278.6 mm ga: 30w3d 30 week scan showed head had slowed in growth under 5th centile. It doesn't exactly have a warm, fuzzy sound. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. She wasnt able to get all the measurements she needed so is bringing me back in a week and a half to get the rest. And I googled microcephaly - don't do it. Consultant suggested that we could go to a specialist hospital for more investigations but may not find anything else out and asked us would it change anything? bpd: 82.6 mm ga: 33w 2d You will be convinced your child has everything under the sun all the way to fetal alcohol syndrome. She's great and we are so relieved! Hopefully she will measure differently when we go back for another. Measuring the baby's fundal height - the distance from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your uterus allows your OB/GYN to roughly assess the size of your uterus and the size, growth rate and positioning of your baby. Thanks. Most commonly, this gets better without any treatment, but sometimes it leads to the need for an operation to relieve the pressure. Just try enjoy your pregnancy and time will tell. Tekola-Ayele F, Zhang C, Wu J, Grantz KL, Rahman ML, Shrestha D, Ouidir M, Workalemahu T, Tsai MY. My OH's family have a history of smaller babies, 5 and 6 pounder's. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. I asked him if he saw any signs of the virus and he said no. head measuring small at 20 weeks. I noticed on the screen in measure 2 1/2 weeks behind (8th percentile). Now Im super worried. Thanks ladies, I'm so concerned about Microcephaly, although the doctor made no mention of this, I googled it. Additionally, all babies (regardless of birthweight or age) needing to be on a breathing machine (ventilator) for more than 48 hours will receive one scan in the first week. Epub 2021 Aug 12. They confirmed that her head was small, so they sent me to a high risk dr. That dr. said the same thing, that she was in the 3rd percentile. This happened until she was delivered and the paediatricians were in the birthsuite with me since she had a small head. We examined the outcomes of pregnancies in which the fetal head circumference (HC) was below the 5(th) centile at the routine second-trimester scan. I am an ultrasound tech at a High Risk OB office and see this all the time. Next check is Wednesday. Maybe that's what the Dr ment, just that the head was smaller compared to the rest of baby? So if the baby was laying against the uterus wall or placenta the head will hangs shape and measurement will be off. consultant says it could be fine or it could indicate an underlying problem but we've no way of knowing. had our 20 week scan today. He actually said all looked good. So I was expecting a tiny little 6lbr qnd abit worried. Outcomes of fetuses with small head circumference on second-trimester ultrasonography A head circumference below the 5(th) centile at second-trimester scan is associated with various abnormalities, especially neurological disorders. It's also possible her head was so high that your ribs or diaphragm got in the way of themeasurements, if her head was towards your spine it can happen. This was in Galway where only anything below 5th centile or above 95th centile were deemed outside normal range. Check out our. Yes, anos.I did Ring clinic to ask if donor had history of smaller head/ in her family and was told they did enquire and said no. Now is the perfect time to start your Baby Registry! Panchaud A, Stojanov M, Ammerdorffer A, Vouga M, Baud D. Clin Microbiol Rev. Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. Call your OB and ask if there is any reason for concern. Why does my baby need a head ultrasound scan? Thanks for taking time to reply. 2 wks later our scheduled growth scan showed BPD at <5th which jumped off the page at me and sonographer passed remark not to pay any heed to the scores. I went nearly 2 weeks over and baby weighed 6lbs!!! iam in similar situation , how things turn out ? As she has grown her proportions have moved closer but she still has a big head on a short body. Top answers from doctors based on your search: Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Breastfeeding: the trick to a comfy latch, More posts in "September 2018 Birth Club" group, Create post in "September 2018 Birth Club" group. The outcome was worse when the HC was smaller. So maybe it is normal for me, but they dont know and that doesnt make me worry any less. Head ultrasound scans on babies in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit. Obviously, it wouldn't as we are due this baby in a few weeks. Thanks! It is very common for a measurement to be equivalent to a week less, or more, than the predicted value. IUGR is usually diagnosed after an ultrasound shows your baby's weight is below the 10 th percentile based on how many weeks pregnant you are. Tnx for asking. I had several referal ultra sound with specialists and all confirmed it. I was told that my baby's head was measuring a week behind. I was quite overweight when I had my first, but in much better shape and fitness wise this time around. could this indicate microcephaly? I'm having a c-section on the 21st, but if her head doesn't catch up or falls further behind, they'll take her before that. I have no idea what that means so I resorted to google and I am scared out of my mind. Probably the most common group is due to genetics & these kids grow up fine with normal development & intellectual functioning. If microcephaly is real, it could be part of several fetal s Pediatrics - Developmental and Behavioral. This time around, I only had at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 19-20 weeks (and 35 just to see the head is in my pelvis). At my 20 week u/s, my LO was measuring small, so I had another u/s 4 weeks later. But of course we wanted to be sure so we did everything they asked. Jump in the fray! I was then sent for a growth scan a few weeks later and the baby's head was below the 5th percentile. Happy to hear your baby is doing okay! Six hundred seventy-four fetuses (3.7%) had an HC below the 5(th) centile. I'm just so nervous with this pregnancy. It's more about baby being consistent in growth. Baby might grow for another 4 to 6 weeks and all should be well. I am getting weekly U/S and NSTs my baby's is measuring small and the head smaller but there have been no "omg" concerns. Troy Reyna agrees 3 thanks A 35-year-old male asked: 20/01/2023 19:20. PVL is uncommon and usually doesnt show up until the head ultrasound scan at 28 days of age or later PVL is described depending on how much of the brain is involved and whether it affects one side of the brain or both. delayed motor function. Because her average growth rate is at 4.8% I will be induced between 37-38 weeks. I know in Gennet they keep details on file for 20/30 years so that might be a possibility for you?? That's nothing for me to freak out about. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly often occurs when there is a problem with brain development in the womb or when the brain stops growing after birth. Less than 3 wks to go so hopefully it goes really fast as the apprehension is difficult now. With bleeding grade 2 or higher, there is some risk that the blood will block up the normal flow of fluid around the brain and this can lead to a build-up of fluid. facial distortions. she was devastated for the whole pregnancy but knew she'd love the baby no matter what. Why does my baby need a head ultrasound scan? I have friends who are very petite and have perfect children who are also very petite. What are the chances my baby will have one of these results? They might suggest you take aspirin to increase the blood flow through the placenta, I have to take 75mg aspirin a day. Everyone is different in size. I have a little one too and his %iles for different parts of him seem to be all over the shop, tho all small. Correlation between 2D and 3D Fetal Brain MRI Biometry and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Fetuses with Suspected Microcephaly and Macrocephaly. intellectual disability. Last week doc measured her head at 30% when minutes prior the ultrasound tech measured it at 12%. My baby's head circumference and BPD are measuring at 5th percentile which is very small. They're more accurate and detailed and can give you a better idea of what is going on. I'm so confused and worried. However, often the baby is perfectly healthy. It was 34cm and normal range is 34-36cm. She said my husband and I aren't really big people so it's probably just a reflection of genetics and the baby's growth is following a curve. Hey everyone thanks for the comments. The lining of the ventricles makes the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Let's just say googling is the worst thing in the world and now I have a very anxious 2 week wait :( Have these sort of measurements been had by anyone else and all turned out ok? I am 36 weeks and 4 days pregnant. A scan showed my baby's head is too small, NetDoctor, part of the Hearst UK wellbeing network. To learn more, please visit our. With severe IVH there is an increased risk of developing long term problems as your baby develops; however, not all babies with severe IVH will develop problems. Last pregnancy, I had scans all the time because of a large baby and low lying placenta. I'm sure everthing will be fine hun, some babies just have small heads! Nothing to worry about at. They will probably give you extra growth scans during the pregnancy too - so you'll get to see baby regularly. The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. it says she was breech at time of ultrasound. Oct 4, 2013 at 7:01 PM. Grade 4 bleed is similar to grade 3 except the bleeding also affects the brain tissue surrounding the ventricles. I went for my 20 week scan today and the lady who did it said the baby was measuring small, particularly the head. Therefore, Maters Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) performs head ultrasound scans on all preterm babies born at less than 32 weeks gestation and all small babies born weighing less than 1500 g. This scan is done within the first week then repeated at around 28 days of age. 2016 Jul;29(3):659-94. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00014-16. I don't know what DD's percentiles were at her ultrasound but at birth her head was 90%+ but her height was less than 5% and she is just fine. The estimated age based on her head size is just 25 weeks while the rest is between 28-30 weeks. My first was in the 75% for weight and length but his head was the 40%. I had a 36 week growth scan on Tuesday and they said my little man was in fact "little" and his head circumference is in the 10th percentile while the other measurements were all around the 50th. It might give you reassurance. Seems ironic in a way .I'm really struggling to stay positive and am having sleepless nights. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. My OB said anything up to three weeks behind is okay, but more than that is a cause for concern. 2 23annie23 Posted 8/4/13 On Fri. But iam in a similar situation wondering what was your outcome . xx, Maybe it was the position of bubs when measured? Try not to worry, these babies all grow at different rates xx. A head ultrasound is a scan through babys fontanelle (soft spot in babys skull) to examine the structures of the brain. To ensure that your baby is comfortable during the scan, they will be given (with your consent) either sucrose orally (sugar solution to help with mild pain) or a pacifier (dummy) as sucking can also provide comfort. Microcephaly (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee) is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is much smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. My midwife said she would have been more concerned if the overall growth was slow. My partner's niece had a small head (at least there was concerns as a tiny baby) but she is fine. If your doctor was truly worried about the size of your baby's head/brain from a medical perspective, I think you would have gotten a lot more than an offhand comment! Even with accurate measurements, the correlation between gestation and measurement is not as reliable at 20-weeks as it is earlier on in pregnancy. And in the end, it might make delivery a tiny bit easier ^ yeah, it kind of sounds like if he just made an off-hand comment without acting concerned, he was trying to make you feel better about possibly an easy delivery, not trying to tell you baby has microcephaly or something. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. 8600 Rockville Pike The most common reason for suspected fetal microcephaly is erroneous due date assignment. Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here). Google can be your best friend and your worst enemy!! fl: 65.0mm ga: 33w 4d What could a small head on fetal ultrasound be a sign of? Has anyone else seen this? It was amazing! If your baby's head circumference is found to be . What is important is the growth velocity with time. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. If possible, I would ask for a level II u/s. Aug 21, 2016 at 11:17 PM. A head circumference below the 5(th) centile at second-trimester scan is associated with various abnormalities, especially neurological disorders. Her head has moved up to the 7th percentile 2 weeks ago. He didn't look strange at all, is perfectly healthy and beautiful now at 2 years old, and his head is now in the 75th percentile! The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. The BPD percentile is more than likely lower due to the babys breechposition. Has anyone else experienced this before? I am 37+5 and went for my growth scan today. does my baby have a small head? Hopefully when they said "small head" they just meant relatively small, but still perfectly healthy. A head ultrasound will usually last 1015 minutes. What are some head ultrasound scan results that I may be told about? 32 week scan showed legs were catching up . I had a follow up scan due to a virus (coxsackie b) I contracted in the beginning of my third trimester. Sometimes babies have a condition called microcephaly. Shows how inaccurate scans can be as others advised. ac: 263.1mm ga: 30w 3d PLoS Genet. Everything measured right on except the head size. A short femur length finding on ultrasound may indicate the need for further testing to rule out certain conditions, such as intrauterine growth restriction, Down syndrome, or other chromosomal issues. Grade 1 bleed a small amount of bleeding limited to the lining of the ventricles. The gestational age of your baby is determined. Ill try not to worry. My bub was in 2nd percentile for head and 55th percentile for belly etc. People make things so complicated. hyperactivity. The .gov means its official. Unfortunately for others, measuring small can be a worrisome sign. I've had a couple friends who had average sized babies with giant heads and that was not a blessing. At birth, a baby's head is typically about one-fourth of his body length. Baby Head Size Very Small on Ultrasound kiwi6715 May 2012 I just got my 28 week ultrasound results and am very concerned. In the end she was born 3.21kg (7lb 1oz) but she was 10 days overdue. But it still won't be in the same proportion as your head is to your body. At 11 weeks of pregnancy, baby's head is about half the length of his body. May 21, 2012. I know I was over 8lbs when I was born and Im not sure about my husband but I think he was the same. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the I hope your lo has arrived safely. Other body parts are measuring between 4-10% on the charts and her head is at about 2%. age: 32w 0d To my boys: I will love you for youNot for what you have done or what you will becomeI will love you for youI will give you the loveThe love that you never knew. I certainly think I am carrying low, but if she is breech her head would be the highest up. 1997-2023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. Her proportion percentile was non existent on the chart (fell off). The site is secure. Im so worried Ive done something wrong. If bleeding occurs that leaks into the fluid spaces (ventricles) inside and around your babys brain, it is called an intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). He said it was normal and wasn't concerned. X. I'm so delighted to read your update. But I don't see DR until next Thursday to discuss dates. This literally means 'small head' and can be associated with learning difficulties. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008747. Reply Quote. The measurements are plotted on a chart - the centiles (lines) on the chart show the expected range of . I'm just hoping that head is smaller be cause baby is Petit. Your doctor will discuss the results with you on the same day, or the next day, depending on when the report is available (looked at by a specialist in head ultrasounds). Mine sent me to a high risk OB for new measurements and everything was actually perfect - the tech just got a bad measurement. Little things like uploading a profile picture make the community a better place. gest. Some ultrasound results make the risk higher, and other results dont affect the risk much. So when I had her and they asked me to guess I nearly died when I was told she was 10'2. W, Thank you ladies. Fetal ultrasound show small head circumference and also small stomach? MeSH I have growth scans every few weeks it seems and did for my last kiddo too since I always measure small. IMO it's one of those things that because we now have the technology to measure it, all it does is create unnecessary worry. Enjoy those new born cuddles, they can't be beaten. Makes me so nervous!! Now I'm super worried. The risk of these problems is higher in the smallest and most preterm babies, and in those who have severe IVH (grade 3 and 4) or severe PVL. Try not to worry too much as nowadays they can do so much. So I have had u/s every 4 weeks to monitor growth. What things can cause a baby's small head? What is the normal head size of a 3 month old baby. She said it was still within the normal range - but on the tail end of normal. These measurements don't necessarily mean your baby will have a low birth weight, or that there's anything wrong with your . We decided not to put ourselves through the stress of any further investigations but are on edge now for remainder of pg. His head has continued 2 measure small all thru his growth. She asked if there was a history of Small heads in our families and of course being DE I couldn't speak for the female side. A. Aeh1980. In a nutshell. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Again, I wouldn't worry about it, but I would push to have your doctor reexamine it. If you're concerned, call your dr for clarification instead of googling, google is just the worst. I don't know if I got level II or not. In preterm babies, many of the disabilities are mild and treatment or support to help the baby is available. Small head does not mean less intelligence. They know now that I have had a small baby before (he was born on the 9th percentile but shot up quickly after birth). We had our 20 week scan yesterday too and ours is measuring ahead on the timmy circumference - same as our 4th baby who ended up being rather large. I went for my 20 week scan today and the lady who did it said the baby was measuring small, particularly the head. Her face looks great on the pictures, big nose bone evident and full lips. Depending on several factors, including the experience of the sonographer, the fetal head and abdominal measurements can be on the "small" side. My partner's niece had a small head (at least there was concerns as a tiny baby) but she is fine. You want the head to How do i know if my fetus has an abnormally small head based on only one ultrasound? While the report said all is fine, my measurements show the baby head at less than 5% while the rest of her is relatively normally. I really should have posted! Might be worth getting second opinion for peace of mind. They told me they could do a spinal tap to find out if anything was wrong with her, but I opted not to. He didn't mention follow up tests or another scan or anything. My baby's head always measured 1-2 weeks behind the rest of her measurements. Microcephaly is a condition where a baby's head is much smaller than expected. For months the doctors made us run around getting MRIs, head sonograms, cat scans. You made it we did it. Congratulations on your perfectly healthy little pink bundle .I'm thrilled everything worked out so well. My (almost) 9lb baby was in the 90th percentile for height and weight, and in the 30-ish percentile for headsize until he was about a month old. Nothing showed up on that. I agree with pp you probably just have small babies and it will definitely help during labour lol. During pregnancy, a baby's head grows because the baby's brain grows. He told me to prepare for a very big baby because of measurements. I had that come up on my anatomy scan and went back 4 weeks later where they said the growth was more even and it wasn't a problem. It's not the Small baby that's my worry but the Small head that can indicate Brain development issues so that's the huge worry. The ultrasound doc told me not to worry, that she's a little on the small side so to make sure I'm eating every 2.5 hours and don't be afraid to put on a few kilos, and to take my iron. Commenting is the best way to get involved. What's important is to have at least 2 more measurements to determine velocity of head & body growth. By the way my 6lb baby is fabulous- but she's never going to be tall, When I was expecting my 3rd doc decided I either expecting twins (iam a twin) or a very big baby twins ruled out big baby I was told terrified for rest pregnancy my daughter arrived after a 6,hr labour weighing 6lb 13ozs, a friend of mine was pregnant in her 20's and was told the baby was likely to have downs syndrome. There were seven intra uterine fetal death (1.3%). Gradually, the body lengthens out and by about 28 weeks of pregnancy, baby's body and head look a whole lot closer to normal. At his 6 week check, his head measurement was bang on the 75th centile, as was his length. What does your doc say? delayed speech. I tried calling my doc back, but he was gone for the day. Thanks. Apparently my OH's niece had s smaller head that Drew negative attention at the time and she is a perfectly typical 8 yr old now so there's a chance its similar with this little one. So glad everything turned out well :) my baby's head has been <3rd since the 20 week scan and it is nerve wracking, I've got scans every 2 weeks but so far everything looks normal aside from her being very small. My actual measurements are: I would call your doctor and ask for another ultrasound. iam so worried. However, you should try your best not to worry. If your baby's head is measuring small or is not growing: Your baby's doctor may be concerned about failure to thrive (when a child doesn't take in enough calories or is unable to utilize them and doesn't grow properly as a result). These fetuses with a head circumference below the 5th percentile were then stratied into three groups: subnormal HC(Z-scorebetween 1.645and 2),smallHC(Z-scorebetween 2and 2.5), and extremely small HC (Z-score below 2.5). Obviously I have no genetic Link so my family history is irrelevant. Hi I was told my 4th child was going to be the a small baby, so I was concerned because the previous children weighed 8'1- 9'12 - 8'13. I'm sure they'll monitor him from now just to make sure he's getting what he needs in there and all will be fine!! The baby's head was measuring largeabove the 95th percentile for her gestational age. On the plus side if everything is normal and she just has a small head then Im hoping it might make things a little easier come deliver day lol . Stay positive! I reckon if its youve have a small baby before perhaps its probably normal for you x, Definetly if small babies are the norm for you I'd try not to worry. Estimated fetal weight is. If the baby odds measuring within normal then there's nothing to worry about. If that baby is 6.5 months old, their head should measure about 44cm to be in the 50th percentile. eCollection 2020 May. We're going to scan again in a couple of weeks in the hopes of getting a more accurate measurement. I have heard of so many cases where measurements were so inaccurate tbh. Get weekly updates on baby and your body. Still I'm very worried about it and would be most grateful if anyone has a similar experience and can tell me all was fine. Disclaimer. The doctor didn't seemed phased at all, and wrote "normal growth" on my chart but requested a follow up scan at 38 weeks. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help Should I have a blood test for Down's syndrome? Katie how are you and your little baby doing?? While the report said all is fine, my measurements show the baby head at less than 5% while the rest of her is relatively normally. Of all the fetuses, 26% were lost to follow-up. My husband is taking the results to a friend of his today to get a second opinion, but everyone keeps telling me to relax. My baby is measuring 2 weeks ahead :/, I think it depends on how far behind it is measuring and if it's getti, I know this post was a long time ago . The sonographer was not entirely happy that the measurements were accurate as the baby's head was well down in the pelvis and in an awkward position.

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