2 Month Olds Head Not Growing???

Updated on June 09, 2010
A.H. asks from Riverton, UT
10 answers

okay so I am probably going to word this really bad but I have to give it a shot! I have a 2 month old baby girl and at her last well check the doctor pointed out that her head has not grown since birth. They told me that if her head hadn't grown by her 4 month well check they would do an ultrasound of her skull to make sure the bone didn't fuse together so her brain can keep growing with out getting smushed. This alone has me freaking out being that I can't do anything but wait the 2 months to see if anything has changed. So my question is, has anyone else gone thru this same type of thing? If so did you notice any signs? Like crying non-stop, loss of eye movement, sleeping a lot anything at all? I am soo worried that "if" she has this problem that 2 months is a long time away and I don't want her to suffer any brain damage that will effect her for the rest of her life. Thanks so much for your help!

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S.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

They were worried about my son having this problem because he had a ridge along the top of his head. We did the Cat Scan and all was well. The cat scan was not a big deal and it was worth it to have a piece of mind!

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R.M.

answers from Topeka on

I would ask the Doctor if it is absolutely safe to wait the extra 2 months. Ask for a 2nd opinion if it makes you feel better. I think I would want to move ahead and get the testing done soon too if I were in your situation. I have not had any experience with fused cranial bones but one of my dearest friends grandaughters was born with water on the brain, which causes the same type of pressure on the brain that you are describing. The first thing that I noticed was that each time I saw the baby ( she was about your childs age I think)...her facial appearance had changed!!! I remember commenting to my husband that if Brittany was placed in a group of babies that I didn't think I would be able to pick her out !!! (I saw the little one about 2 times a week at church). This was caused by the buildup of fluids in her cranial cavity that was literally reshaping the contours of her face!!! Get some pictures out of your daughter from birth...and compare them...facial features etc and see what you think. Now this was NOT anything subtle...so don't drive yourself crazy measuring or anything like that....this was a very obvious change!!! What finally took this little one to the ER and the discovery of what was going on was projectile vomiting and small seizures. Now that I have unwillingly scared you half to death, let me tell you that Brittany is now a brilliant, perfect 15 year old...she had a surgery as an infant to put a shunt in to drain the excess fluids from her brain, into her abdominal cavity. Brittany is an honor student in Jr. High...a cheerleader, and sings in our Praise and Worship Team at church!! The only sign that anything was EVER wrong is the bump of the shunt that you can feel if you run your hands over the top of her head!!!
So go with your gut...if it is telling you that 2 months is too long to wait, call the pediatrician and tell him/her that you simply can't wait that long to get an answer. Other than that...just concentrate on loving your little girl and enjoying each new day with her as she grows and charms you!!!
I would also ask the pediatrician what kind of signs you should be watching for that would indicate that you need to be getting in touch with him. He will know what signs would indicate a problem.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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1 mom found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I remember the last day at the NICU before I took my baby home....the NICU doc told me..."your baby head not growing, small head, small brain, mental problems." Thats exactly how he said it. Talk about freaking me out! So here's what happened with us. My babies head did grow, but VERY VERY slowly. Everytime we made a trip to the doc they told me the same thing, about cranial fusion, what the procedure was, etc. I think it was around 3 months my baby had a growth spurt. She grew 2 and a half inches, gained 2lbs, and gained 3cm on her head circumference in 2 weeks. It absolutely amazed me. Eventually she started to catch up in her percentiles, but as I look at her today, she still has a smaller head then other kids her age (which is funny cause her dad has a huge head!). I would say if you are really worried about it seek a second opinion, it can't hurt. Also you need to ask if brain damage could occur that would effect her for life, that answer might put you at some ease. You're her momma, your allowed to be over-protective and frantic about these things! Good Luck! =)

C.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am so very sorry to hear that. I will pray for your precious little baby girl.

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M.R.

answers from Columbus on

If you don't want to wait and see, call back and tell the doctor that! Ask what can be done to find out now if her bones are fused, and go for a second opinion if you still feel funny about what your doctor says. You need peace of mind, and sometimes your Mommy voice is what you need to listen to, no matter what the doctors say, if for nothing else, so that you feel better!

M.

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K.W.

answers from Boise on

My daughter had to wear a helmet for reshaping... and a different problem... BUT... If I had not gotten a second opinion, she would have never gotten the problem taken care of. Like the other mommies have said, get a second opinion, go with your gut! You are the mom, and you will be glad that you did. If you are not happy with that opinion go with a third. Your child depends on you for her care. Physicians "practice" medicine.

You will be in my prayers also Best of luck to you and your family! <3

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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

I have heard of the cranial bones fusing together. If two months seems like too long a time to you and your gut is telling you something is wrong, then I would ask to see a specialist now or change pediatricians if you can.
All you can do in the meantime is care for your baby the best you can. Babies can be very resilient and you are in a country with great medical resources so try not to panic, you and your babe will get through it.

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N.R.

answers from Fort Collins on

Trust yourself.If two months seems too long than two months is too long.If i were you ,i'll call back my ped and see if i could have the ultrasound done now.Ask why wait two months to figure the problem?.If she needs surgery is it not the sooner the better? If you feel is not concerned enough or not listening to you concerns enough ,i will simply get a second opinion and switch off pediatrician. We had to do this for my last son who was born with a heart birth defect that nobody seems to notice but me.Although i didn't know at the time that it was a heart defect (i thought it was a lung defect as he kept having Bronchiolitis over and over and over ,8 in seven months of life).And they kept telling me that it was because my oldest daughter was in kindergarten and was bringing germs home all the time...ya right).
I went to get a second opinion and told them i didn't think that it was just bronchiolitis .The first time they say that it was bronchiolitis ,so i didn't know what to think....then he got sick again badly was on breathing treatments and i keep a day by day hourly journals of symptoms and bring that to the doctors(the second opinion ones) that was impress and concern but not too much with the records .My son needed four to six breathing treatment per day as his breathing was so labored and i was seriously concerned that he will stop breathing on me so he got sick again not even two weeks later and i put my fear of him stopping breathing on my own records . To put my fear at ease they ask if i wanted to do an ultrasound of his chest to look for any pulmonary infections,you bet i did .they ten discover the enlarge heart and the heart birth defect after some more testing.He was rushed to Children hospital in Denver where is stay on and off for about two months as they had to stabilized the lung disease first before proceeding with the heart surgery.He was 8 months old when he had the surgery and was home within a week of the surgery.Today he is a healthy 20 months old that just need to see a cardiologist every 3 months for check up.He is still a litlte more frail than other toddlers and will get sick more easily if i forgot to sanitize is hands after playground play for instance but not nearly as bad as what it was when it was a small infant.So, like i said trust your instinct .Your the mom and you the one that knows best .Good luck and keep us posted.Hope everything will turn out fine with your little girl too. N.

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N.M.

answers from Denver on

Your doctor is referring to craniosynostosis. There are two types: primary which my son had and secondary. My son was born with this and had the surgery at 10 weeks old. His top sutures were fused and the back were locked. So his head started to grow into a football shape. I know little to nothing about Secondary craniosynostosis, but the sooner the surgery is done for any of the kids the better. I was terrified at the idea of my baby having surgery but I had a great surgical team and the nurses in post-op were wonderful. They helped me meet other parents who's children had this and how well they recovered. I would suggest that if you can have the ultrasound or a CTscan now to go ahead and do it. I hope this helps.

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