Babys Head Measuring Too Small :'(

My one year old was just measured with a head too big so $225 later the CT scan told us there is nothing wrong-- she just has a big head. The measurements they compare them to are just the average. Some kids are going to be below or above. It sure does scare us mommas to death though! I would ask my doctor before you get worried and upset.

I have no idea what my babies were at 27 weeks. I do know that my first was supposed to be 6lb 9 oz a week before he was born and was told he would be 7lb5oz at most at birth. He was 8lbs 7 oz when he was born a week later. I don't think they know how to measure very well with those things! :)

Normal is ALWAYS a bell curve. My nephew and my son are 2 weks apart in age . Thay are both NORMAL, ACTIVE 3 year olds now, but when they were born they looked like pin head and block head! Isaac has a small head and J has a big head. And ultrasound measurements are NOT always accurate!

In my case my son was having his body 2 weeks behind his head measuring... Docs were driving me crazy... My son is totally normal but with a big head :) Sometimes docs scare you to dead with that info.... Good luck! N.

I have not been through this or known anyone that went through it. I just did some googling and found that it's often difficult to get an accurate measurement and that a week or more off on head measurements are common. Usually it doesn't mean anything. It can and there are conditions that can cause some delays. But at this point the likelihood isn't that high.

Did your doctor tell you to worry? If not, please don't. It is VERY difficult for ultrasound techs to get accurate measurements, and babies frequently measure larger or smaller than they actually are. So the fact that her head measures one week smaller than her body is nothing. Really. And it might not even be smaller - if the tech measured her head as 1.2 inches it's on target, but 1.15 inches is a week small (or something like that). With that margin of error you don't worry until body parts are several weeks behind according to my perinatologist.

Don't stress. I am sure your doctor did not use the words "too small," because he would have left you with a lot of information if that was the case. At my son's last well baby visit (6 months) his head measured at 9%. I thought something was wrong but the pediatrician had told me that there was no need for concern because anywhere between 5% and 95% was considered normal developmentally. My husband and I have smaller heads and that is most likely the case for our son. I think that if there was something to be concerned about the doctor would have gone into more details with you. You should make it a point to discuss it with him the next time you go for a visit, so to ease your mind.

You need to talk to your doctor before getting worried - it may be nothing abnormal at all. Please call in the morning and speak with the doctor's office for some peace of mind!

Hi - Do you or your husband have a smaller head? My son was born with a smaller head and we had him tested because they were concerned and he is now a healthy intelligent 11 year old - and my husband has a smaller head. Speak to your OB - you shouldn't worry and I agree with the post that states we shouldn't have so many ultra sounds as some babies have small heads and some large. The funny thing is, my son's friend has a large head and the family had unfound worries there and here was my son with a smaller head. Go figure. Both boys look and act great now. Good luck!

Ger,
Don't let them talk you into a c-section because of it. If they start - look for another practice! - And YES you can look into a new doctor even the day before you are DUE. Not a comfy feeling, but anyone who wants to perform major surgery 'to be on the safe side' needs his/her head examined. And I needed mine examined because I FOLLOWED HER ADVICE ALMOST 4 YEARS AGO!

International Cesarean awareness network. ICAN for short. They are on facebook. You can join the yahoo group and learn more.

Good luck,
Congratulations!
M.

PS: they call the phenomenon - linebacker baby. They 'say' the head is not big enough to pave the way for the body. Bogus.

I too was told my daughter's head measured small at 25 weeks. Why these people told me that I have no idea. I must have had a small heart attack every day before I could see a "specialist" at my hospital. After I was re-measured, which involved the Dr. getting on top of table to shake me to get my daughter to move positions, they said she was fine and stubborn :-) When she was born, her head was huge! And it still is. I would not put too much into what the ultrasound says. The baby is fine.

Some babies have smaller heads then others. Some ob/gyn offices have no brains in them. Everyone knows how pregnant mothers worry. Why upset you when there is no need.
If the baby had a microencephalic head it would by now be the size of a quarter.
Maybe it would be better if doctors did not do ultrasounds. It's just curiosity as so many of them cannot read the results well.
I know I've been to over 600 births.

Weight has nothing to do with head size, and those u/s estimates of weight can vary widely. They don't tell you anything about the health of your baby or when the baby will be born. If they did not send you to a specialist or for follow up care, then clearly they are not alarmed. Contact your doctor if you need reassurance, that is what he/she is there for.

G.,

No worries. Look around and ask yourself if there's anyone who looks like their head is too small...No....

My doctor told me my son's head was measuring so big he wouldn't be able to wear a turtleneck. That kept me up nights! But he's just fine.

And your baby will be fine too.

(: