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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

DS2's head circumfrence has gone down..they want to see him again in 4-6 weeks. Why has this happened?

18 replies

Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 09:24

Hi.

I took DS2 for his 7-9 month check up yesterday.

He has lost weight, due to that horrid virus with the vomiting and diorhea (sp? sorry)

They measured his head and that has also gone down. He looks in proportion, and seeing as DS1 has craniosyntosis (single suture) I'm ultra sensitive about things like this.

DS2 was born with the cord around his neck, could this have made it bigger due to puffiness / swelling?

If anyone can give advice or stories of similar thngs, I'd be very grateful.

TIA.

p.s DS2's development is fine with no cause for concern.

OP posts:

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Hallgerda · 02/03/2006 09:30

Can't help you on the main point, but two of my sons were born with the cord round their necks and have absolutely no problems.

mckenzie · 02/03/2006 09:32

Based on the experience of a friend of mine I would say really dont worry too much, at least until you've been checked again. It seems that the head is quite a difficult areas to measure and get three people to measure it and you'll probably get three different answers.

Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 09:33

Thanks Hallgerda..

I wasn't very worried about it until yesterday! I wish i'd not gone now!

Thanks for your answer.

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Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 09:34

Thanks McKenzie, DS2 didn't really appreciate the band of tape around his head! Yes, I think you're spot on about 3 people and three different answers!

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hunkermunker · 02/03/2006 09:36

How much had it gone down? When was the last time it was measured?

It's tricky to measure in exactly the same place each time - and as has already been said, growth is something they need to check over a period of time to check properly - you can't do it with two measurements (had this with growth scans when I was pg).

Hope it's OK - and huge sympathies on the smaller child after the D&V - I've got one of those too

Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 09:47

I've got the measurments:

at 2 weeks : 37.8
at 36 weeks : 46.1

The annoying thing is there are 4 measurment s marked down on the scale but only 2 written down on the record thingy.

Bascially it has gone from 91st centile down to the 50th, but that is over 7 months approx.

Why do they worry us like this!?
Especially with DS1 who was fobbed off with "don't worry his hair will grow over it" He should've actualy seen a pead. 3 times in his first year to check there was no damage.

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Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 09:48

Thanks Hunker.

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hunkermunker · 02/03/2006 09:49

What's his weight done over the same period? You say he looks in proportion - if you'd not had him measured, you'd not have been worried?

TheBlonde · 02/03/2006 09:52

So his head hasn't got smaller it's just he's dropped on the chart?

Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 09:54

His weight was has gone up at the 75th poercentileuntil 12 weeks where is has droppped ever so slightly on top just below the 75th, but has now gone to just under the 50th, but as i said we've all had this awful bug.

He was 9lb at birth and never lost his weight.

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Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 09:55

Yes TheBlonde, I suppose it has, I for some silly panicking mother reason, never thought of it like that. Silly me.

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mawbroon · 02/03/2006 10:31

I second the inaccuricies of the measurements. My DS was measured at 61cms long then a week later he was half a cm shorter!! It was two different HVs doing the measurements.
At least they will be taking another look at your DS's head so if there is a problem then they might spot it

TheBlonde · 02/03/2006 13:39

Mumatuks - I don't think you should worry too much

My DS started out weighwise on 50th, then up to 75th but is now down to the 25th
His head has not been measured since birth so I assume it's fine!

Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 13:49

After a quick search on the web for slowed head growth I think I've found what she is getting at. If I google slowed head growth I get information about Rett syndrome. However, I'm not worrying anymore, DS2 is perfectly in proportion, he is alert bright and very happy little boy. To look at his head he still has the baby my-head-is-too-big-for-my-body look!

I am going to get in contact and ask why they want him to come back and why I am left worrying.

I felt so crap this morning, after feeling like I am getting somewhere with my PND, I could feel myself getting that awful panicking "i must be a crap mother" again. I'm pretty pi**ed off with the H.V as she knows my history and surely knows better than to leave me worrying about things. Why they just can't be striaght with us in the first place I don't know.

Anyway I would like to thank you all for your answers. If anything serious comes of it (which I seriously doubt) I'll post back.

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mrsdarcy · 02/03/2006 14:47

Hi Mumatuks

My DD is 7 months old and has her head measured regularly because of an isolated brain abnormality (which doesn't seem to be causing her any problems).

Her weight and head circ. have been on the 75th centile from birth until recently, when both dropped to the 50th. My HV told DD's neurologist who wasn't worried, and when we saw her paed she said it was a v typical chart for a bf baby.

hth

hunkermunker · 02/03/2006 14:54

Mumatuks, I'm really sorry she left you worrying. If it helps at all (not sure why it would - lol!) I've fretted re DS1's head in the past - it was on 91st centile when he was born (pause for me to wince here...!) and his fontanelle's still feelable (though only as a dipped ridge iyswim) at 23m - should've closed by 18m.

Not at all worried re his development or growth otherwise, but every now and then I get panicky "OMG, DS's head's not right" moments. Fortunately my memory's not what it was, so I don't fret for long as I get distracted by a bit of peeling wallpaper or wondering what happened to one of my favourite socks. Being ditzy really does help with things like this, I find

It does sound like your DS is fine - the measurement was could have been taken at a different point on his head and it sounds like the rest of him is in proportion anyway x x x

Mumatuks · 02/03/2006 14:55

Thanks MrsDarcy,

DS2 is also BF ( i wish he would have a bottle from time to time but he's refused every milk in the market!!) It sounds to be exactly the same as what happened with your DD!

Very reasurring - thanks for posting that.

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Elibean · 02/03/2006 14:56

I had exactly the same thing happen with DD....and it was nothing. HV did scare me at the time, I feel for you! Here's wishing you reassurance, and soon.

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