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Pregnancy

Big head?!

9 replies

Maurice169 · 23/01/2016 20:41

Hi
Ive just had my 34 week scan, baby looks good. Stomach and legs are measuring normal but head is on the 97th percentile, so right up there. The consultant says its nothing to worry about. Has anyone else had similar measurements?

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SeldomAthleticFC · 23/01/2016 22:04

My DD's head circumference was 98th percentile when she was born. She was long and thin with a great big head. Now aged 8, she is still the same, the tallest child in her class but as thin as a rake. Her head doesn't look out of proportion. Full of brains, I say.

To be perfectly honest, I did get a fairly bad tear when she was born but I was so delighted with my baby, I couldn't have cared less. My only advice would be: when the midwife says "STOP PUSHING!" you should probably stop pushing.

Now expecting DC3, I had a 32 week scan a few days ago where abdominal circumference is off the scale (99th percentile) but head is only slightly big (88th) and legs are short (37th). I'm expecting a weeble!

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Nicknamegrief · 23/01/2016 22:10

Not a midwife and the one child I had vaginally did enough damage (3 sections) but I thought that the skull bones overlap during birth making it smaller and in the majority of cases it was the shoulders that caused more tears.....happy to be corrected and good luck.

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bluewisteria · 23/01/2016 22:32

My first child had a huge head, off the scale. Delivery was quick and fine, but try and go with gravity and stand up rather than push lying down. It really makes a difference with tearing.
She still has a big head, just turned 6 and it is finally in proportion with the rest of her. Lots of brains too

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Luckygirlcharlie · 23/01/2016 22:34

Yes! DS1s head was 99th! Probably becuase DH has a big head! DSs head was born without too much trouble. His shoulder got stuck but more due to positioning relative to my pelvis. As pp said the plates overlap so I wouldn't worry. Best of luck!

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Battleshiphips2 · 23/01/2016 22:40

My ds1's head was on the 97th centile but everything else was on the 50th. We use to call him melon head. It didn't look out of proportion or anything though. He's now 8 and has a perfect head. I am currently 33 weeks with ds2 and his head also is on the 97th centile. The rest of him is too though. They've estimated he's around 6lb already!

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SeldomAthleticFC · 23/01/2016 22:42

I think you have a good point about position, bluewisteria - I was lying on my back which can't have helped.
As PP's have said, the plates do overlap. DD looked like a Klingon, with ridges either side of her forehead, for several weeks after she was born, but her head soon sprang back into shape.

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Gunting · 23/01/2016 22:46

My son had a big head. I can't remember which centile but he was 10lb 6oz and on the 96th centile overall.

I had a second degree tear which healed in a week. After two weeks the swelling went down and it looked as good as new almost

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TheLittleLion · 23/01/2016 23:45

DSs scans showed he had a massive head, big tummy and really tiny legs. I was always told not to worry and rightfully so.. Everything was fine with the birth and him and I didn't tear at all. Although when MW measured his head after he was born she did comment on the size of it (I think I was about 1cm away from them being concerned), he's now 2, totally normal and I'd say his head is pretty average.

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Maurice169 · 24/01/2016 10:04

Aww thanks for all your comments everyone, lovely to hear your babies are all ok. It's put my mind at ease X