Head Circumference - too small?
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Topic: Head Circumference - too small?
Posted By: denny25
Subject: Head Circumference - too small?
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 7:21pm
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Ava went for her 5 month 'well child' check up at the Dr's the other day. Her head circumference was 42cm and the Dr said that this was on the small size, so we have to go back and get her measured in 2 weeks and then if it is still on the small size she will refer us to a paediatrician.
Her HC was 33cm when she was born and I've googled it and 42cm seems ok according to WHO standards...hopefully she is just being cautious, but I'm worried. |
Replies:
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 7:57pm
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Jack was 35cm HC when born and I think 47cm at 5 months, so it seems relatively normal to me. I guess it may differ because of them being different genders, but Jack's always been average to above average for head size. I think with things like that (I know they do with growth of other areas anyway) they are usually looking at the RATE of growth, so if that has dipped down then maybe that's why the doc wants to measure her again.
Hope all is well though, I know from experience (Jack struggled with putting weight on and was always dropping his rate of growth) that the stats can become quite stressful, but I'm sure they're just being cautious. If she's developing well then there shouldn't be anything to worry about, but glad you've got a doc who errs on the side of caution rather than one that doesn't give two hoots 
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 8:38pm
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My girls were 5 weeks prem but here are their stats:
Aoife/Eimear Birth 30.5cms/32.1cms 5months: 40cms/40cms 8 months: 44.5cms/42cms I'd say she's just being cautious and a free visit to the Paed is always nice 
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Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 8:51pm
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Joel was 35cm at birth and 44cm at 5m, so ours is in line with yours and nothing was said to me. I'm sure she is doing fine. Don't actually have Leahs at birth (hopeless effing mw at the time -------------  
 
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) but at 4 weeks it was 36.5cm (3.5 weeks early) and at 5 months 42.4cm and nothing was said then either.Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 10:14pm
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Hmm, just looking at the WHO growth charts and 42cm is slightly above 50th centile for 5 months old. I also plugged that into a growth calculator and it said 50th centile.
Sounds fine to me! |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 11:26am
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just checked Ella plunket book and at birth her head circ was 34cm and at 5 months 42cm and my nurse never had any concerns- she just has a small head (which makes sense as I do to and can still wear kids hats). ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 11:56am
Seems to me like your GP is just erring on the side of "not-so-caution" 
At 5 months Hannah's stats: Height: 61cm (25th centile) Weight: 6kg (25th centile) Head circ: 41cm (50th centile) So unless her length and wight make Ava completely out of proportion, I don't think you have cause for worry
*eta: head circ at birth was 32cm. ------------- 
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 2:18pm
| Just looked at Isla's wellchild book out of curiosity (cos Im procrastinating) and her HC at birth was 37cm (thats at least 2 cm bigger than everyone else thats posted,- can anyone say BIG HEAD! ) and 42cm at 5 months. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 4:15pm
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I have no idea what my girls were at that age, but it sounds fine to me. Lil miss didn't even get her HC measured at her 5 mth check. I agree with Mamapickle that it's the proportion thing that's most important, but I guess it can't hurt to humour your GP just to be on the safe side.
LOL Kellz, Maya was 'only' 36.5cm but if it makes you feel better, one of Deb's boys was 39!  -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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