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Low BPD at 20 weeks scan

8 replies

Racheal12 · 22/05/2011 16:06

i just had 20 week ultrasound... all measurement is normal (around 20 weeks) but BPD was 42 mm (18.5 weeks), doctor told me to have another scan in 4 weeks... i am scared to death...really worried... Do i need to worry about it?....

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TyNobdieJigz · 22/05/2011 16:08

Sorry, whats BPD stand for again, been about a year since my 20 week scan

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Racheal12 · 22/05/2011 16:11

BPD stands for biparietal diameter.It is a measurement of the baby's head from side to side.

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TyNobdieJigz · 22/05/2011 16:34

Oh ok, thought it was something else that I did know about sorry :(
Hope someone more helpful comes along soon.

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muffins · 22/05/2011 16:45

Hi rachael,

it is actually not recommended that BPD is measured anymore, head circumference is more important, did u have this done too?

The reason is that different shape heads can cause misleading results, so for example your babys head may be slightly narrower (causing smaller bpd) but the overall head circumference is actually fine. Dolichocephalic is the technical term for this head shape I think but don't quote me on it! Conversely a high bpd could be result of a wider head but again overall head circumference is fine. Does this make sense?!

Where I work we don't measure bpd any longer for these reasons so I really wouldn't worry at all xx

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Racheal12 · 22/05/2011 17:09

Muffins, Thanks for the quick reply.. they did measure HC and it comes out to be normal (around 20.2 weeks)...

Many thanks...

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midori1999 · 22/05/2011 17:42

I had a scan at 18+4 days and BPD was 41.9mm. The consultant doing the scan didn't even query it.

I am now 33+5 and a scan at 33+1 showed all measurements over the 90th centile.

I've also been scanned regularly since 20 weeks and no one has suggested any problem.