Small head circumference 20 weeks

[SearchingTheSkies]

Hi all, my baby's HC was measuring around the 5th percentile at the 20 week scan. The sonographer said technically it's still within normal range, but would need to be kept an eye on with growth scans. All other measurements were around the 35th percentile and no abnormalities detected. Has anyone else had similar? What was the outcome? I've got a follow up scan Thursday (currently 25weeks) and just so worried.

Hey I’m in the same position! Her head measured ON the 5th centile, femur length on the 10th and the abdo just under the 50th. So scared and confused, I have a re scan next week.

I’ve read lots of posts saying very similar and their babies ended up just small with no other concerns, hoping that’s the case for us too

Hi. I had this. Most measurements around 25th centile but head very low at 3rd. I had extra growth scans anyway, and throughout head measurements kept dropping down the centile scale. Last scan at 38 weeks was off the chart.

She’s 17 months now and perfect, no issues at all. No idea why they were showing so small but head measurement was fine in real life. The scans aren’t always accurate, so try not to worry too much.

@HaddawayAndShite ah that’s reassuring to know! We’re you referred to fetal medicine ?

Thank you so much for replying @HaddawayAndShite - I'm so glad everything worked out well for you. You're right, the scans aren't always 100% accurate.

I've had my rescan and head still at same percentile but tracking its growth curve nicely. Dr wasn't concerned but will keep scanning every 4 weeks. I'm feeling much better and hoping it's just a smaller head,

I hope you get positive news @Sprinklerainbows - there always seems to be something to worry us in pregnancy! Let me know how you get on. My next scan is Jan 19th so I'm hoping for further reassurance then.

@SearchingTheSkies oh that’s good to know!
its so stressful, I feel like the magic of pregnancy has been tainted and this is my last pregnancy too.
ive also got a low lying placenta, covering my cervix which is not good, so extra scans to see if it’s going to move. Feeling very deflated at the moment

extra scans are great but I think there’s going to be a LOT 😅

@Sprinklerainbows I can totally relate! It's like something hanging over you. It's my last baby too. With my dd, she also measured small so I had extra growth scans, and I was so worried, but when she was born she was very average. I told myself I'd not worry with my next baby as it was all for nothing in the end. But here I am, worrying yet again (though not quite so much since that second scan).

I hope you get some reassurance soon. Hopefully your placenta will move? At least we'll get to see the babies lots of times I suppose!

@SearchingTheSkies no way! My son was measuring a tiny bit small too but ended up very average! I had a LOT of growth scans for nothing too 🤣

my hospitals policy had changed and only do growth scans from 32 weeks now so after my scan on Thursday I’m worried it might be my last until then, feels like a long time to wait and see if it’s all okay. My hospital also don’t refer to fetal medicine unless the head is below the 5th centile and she’s ON it (it’s 160.2mm) 😩
what centile is your baby’s head on now? Do you know the measurements?

thank you, I’m counting down the days until the scan. I’ll keep you updated x

@Sprinklerainbows no, no referral to feral medicine. I kept asking midwives for reassurance but was told if they were concerned they would tell me so to stop worrying lol. Which isn’t always helpful but I tried to take it as a reassuring message. Everything was still in the scope of “normal” even measuring low.

Good wishes to you both. I know it’s hard but try not to worry!

@HaddawayAndShite I can’t believe they didn’t refer you! Considering it was so low! Great it was a positive outcome though

I really feel like I need reassurance but I know they won’t give it to me 😩 x

hey @Sprinklerainbows , how did things go at your re-scan? hope you're doing ok.

we're in the same boat - hc was measuring small at the 20 week scan, we were sent to fetal medicine who checked things over and have told us we should be reassured things are looking okay and sent away to come back for a growth scan at 32 weeks. It feels like an unbelievably long time to wait without another data point on how the head is growing! we're looking into booking a private fetal medicine scan at 24 weeks as we don't feel like we can celebrate this pregnancy yet...

@northerngal20 hey! Sorry to hear you’re in the same boat. Rescan didn’t go well. Baby fell lower off the scale now on the 2.5th centile. also they picked up an echogenic bowel, so we were sent to fetal medicine.
we were seen the following day where they did the TORCH bloods and cystic fibrosis bloods on me and my partner (torch came back clear, cf take up to 10 days so not heard yet) then they decided we needed to be seen at a bigger hospital in London so they called us yesterday and we have an appointment tomorrow. They said we will likely have growth scans every 2 weeks but depends what UCH find tomorrow. (Also due to have an amnio but I’ve turned it down and going to pay for a NIPT instead)

let me know how your next scan goes. Hopefully all is okay with baby, the majority of cases I’ve seen turn out fine! X

My eldest had a small head on the scans. Lots and lots of scans, and the consultant sonographer made me cry at every single one with tactless speculation. Once she was born there was not a single mention about her head size ever again. 6 now and doing well.

ah @Sprinklerainbows sorry to hear that :( it's so unbelievably stressful isn't it! i read up the thread and can totally relate to you saying it's tainted things for you. We just don't feel like we can prepare/get excited or even really explain this to our other DC. how far along are you at the moment? sounds like they're being really thorough with all the testing though which is great. what's TORCH if you don't mind me asking? really hope all goes well tomorrow with your appointment tomorrow. will be crossing everything for you!

we were really surprised to not have any further testing after the scan at fetal medicine last week; as baby's head is well below the 5 %tile at the moment, which is terrifying. i was fully prepared for an MRI/amnio, or at least more regular scans, so while i technically should be reassured that we're not having further testing, i'm really not as we would rather know what's happening before 32 weeks. i've been trying to contact my midwife as i feel like i need some support but i can't get through, and really not sure what other options i have.

@GlumyGloomer that's reassuring! thank you!

@northerngal20 yeah it’s so hard. The excitement has just vanished and replaced with worry!
we can’t truly know if they are only until they arrive. Fetal medicine expressed urgency incase of TERMINATION! I was so shocked I burst into tears, I just didn’t even consider that might be an option.

The TORCH test is for viruses that you may pass to the baby the most common one is CMV! Can cause all sorts of abnormalities.

thank you, I’m so worried they’ll try and persuade me to have the amnio but personally it’s not something I want!

every hospital seems so different with what they are concerned by etc. but for us they only became concerned when they noticed the bowel PLUS the head circumference… I’d try and call FM at your hospital! You definitely need support! We’ve been given 2 consultants plus 2 fetal medicine midwives who we can call whenever we like! I’m sure there’s someone you can make contact with!

im currently 22 weeks, how many weeks are you now? X

ugh, that's awful, @Sprinklerainbows , so sorry you're going through that. Termination has been weighing on my mind too and i understand the shock and tears - we've been through every emotion the past week! i'm getting nervous as we edge towards 24 weeks - a milestone i would have been so excited to hit before! really hope both of our babies end up being healthy! I'm 21 weeks and a few days now, and this afternoon my midwife finally picked up and was helpful, she's going to contact my consultant and request a scan on my behalf in a few weeks' time, which has calmed me down a little!

oh ok, glad TORCH came back clear then. I did a lot of gardening over the summer just before conceiving, so i've been worried about toxoplasmosis. would definitely want that test for peace of mind! If you're set on not having the amnio then you don't have to, esp if you're having the NIPT done. hopefully it won't come to that though!

let us know how things go tomorrow, hopefully they can provide a bit more clarity for you!xx

My eldest had a very small head on scans. I was sent to a specialist for further very detailed scans, they were concerned about a genetic abnormality where organs are enlarged, as her abdomen was also v large relative to her skull.
She was completely fine, and her head looked an average size when born, Ironically she is 18 now and has a tiny 22” waist..

@northerngal20 I know it’s horrendous! I’m confident we won’t need to consider termination, it’s not something I’m willing to discuss unless obviously the baby is going to be incompatible with life.

the NIPT is very accurate, but they tried to convince me the amnio is a better option because of the extra chromosomal abnormalities it can detect (NIPT is only downs, edwards and Patau)

That’s good she picked up! Glad you’ll have an extra scan too. It should hopefully put your mind at rest.

Definitely see if they’ll do the TORCH bloods it only took a second and covers toxoplasmosis!

I’ll update you after our appointment x

@Sprinklerainbows thinking of you today!

@northerngal20 thank you! We are on our way home from the app. It was mostly positive!
she’s still tiny tiny about 2 weeks behind and still under the 3rd centile but no other abnormalities other than the bowel which we knew about. She is pretty confident it’s not edwards or pataus, but said there’s about 4 soft markers to suggest downs. We declined the amnio and she was very nice about it and said she was happy for us to go and have the NIPT which I think I’ll book tomorrow. We’ll know pretty certainly if she does have downs from that. The only thing she said we can’t rule out is the other more rare chromosome abnormalities but she said once she’s born we can have more testing (as we are happy to continue the pregnancy without knowing that into)

she said the other concern is my placenta (good blood flow atm) but having had some big bleeds in early pregnancy and I have a history of high blood pressure I’m a high risk for placental insufficiency syndrome and therefore they will keep a super close eye as it may stop working before she’s term. So we have to go every 2 weeks for scans with them and then hopefully towards the end of the pregnancy can be referred back to our local hospitals fetal medicine unit.

she said baby will likely be delivered around 37 weeks if she’s still looking healthy (but small) otherwise they’ll have to make a decision in the third trimester if the growth does stop.

over all baby is looking good! Just super small haha

oh phew @Sprinklerainbows ! so glad it was positive!! that's really great that they can rule out Edwards/Pataus, and with the NIPT happening so soon you'll soon know in terms of Downs.Will be thinking of you -- keep me posted when you hear back.

Also great that they've spotted any potential placenta issues and will be keeping such a close eye on that, and also that you have a plan in terms of what that will mean for delivery. all in all really glad they went through everything with you, hope you're feeling a little more reassured/calm now?

SO glad to hear baby is looking good!! perfect but tiny! 😍Is she quite small all over? I keep telling myself that someone has to be in the lower percentiles, so she really could just be on the petite side. And you never know, she might have a growth spurt over the next few months!x

@northerngal20 thank you! Yes a big relief

I feel so well looked after and they was soooo thorough! I really trust her findings etc.

yes she’s under for everything, legs, arms, but especially the head. The only one in the normal range is the abdomen! She actually remeasured 4 times to make sure she wasn’t wrong. But she said she’s pretty in proportion and just super small. Her head is measuring at 19w and 6 days and I’m 22 weeks so Really really small 😅

definitely some people are just small! The charts look ridiculous because she’s not actually on any lines except the AC but as long as she still grows I think they will be happy!

have you got a date for your scan? X

Aww so glad to hear that @Sprinklerainbows 😊Being in proportion is a really really good sign, so long as she continues to follow her trend then I'm sure all will be ok. SO glad you're feeling better about things. Is your NIPT today?

Still no date for our scan--MW said she'd book it in after my 25 week apt which is three weeks away, so at least 3 weeks until I know when it'll be. Despite that I might still book a private one in before that when I'm 24 weeks, not sure if it's a bit extravagant but i also feel like the (hopefully) reassurance will be worth it, and I also want to start decorating/preparing for baby but don't want to start yet given how uncertain and anxious we're feeling at the moment.. argh i just hope it's all going to be ok!

hi! how is everyone getting on? we're still waiting/in limbo over here but hoping to get another scan soon. @Sprinklerainbows did you get any test results back? @SearchingTheSkies how many weeks are you now?

@northerngal20 hello! Can’t believe you’re still waiting! I’m now 25 weeks and we’ve had about 10 appointments 🤣 CF and TORCH tests came back negative! We obviously didn’t have the amnio so can’t say for sure about the chromosomal conditions however they strongly believe it’s not edwards or Pataus. We will have to wait until birth to know if she has anything else genetic or potentially Downs. She’s now symmetrically tiny all over. So they’ve decided the most likely cause is placental insufficiency and therefore we will have bi weekly scans right up until when she’s delivered. They are aiming for 37 weeks but could be any time tbh, all depends on if she carries on to grow

has there been any more info for you at all?