Baby plummeting down the length centiles

[Listzilla]

DS is 11 weeks and has dropped from the 97th centile for length at birth to the 9th yesterday. He's grown a total of 1.5cm in 11 weeks.

Anyone had that happen to their DC and it turned out to be meaningless?

I think it takes about 6 months for them to 'settle on a line' (this is what Inwas told when my DD dropped from 50th to 2nd) as birth height/weight can be influenced by whether overdue etc so not always accurate. I personally wouldn't worry about it too much, mention it in passing to HV perhaps when you see her anyway for some reassurance and keep an eye on it but over a longer timeframe.

And it's worth keeping in mind, you can't make him grow longer/taller anyway! There is no miracle gro for babies!

No, I know there's nothing we can do, but he had a really tough birth and was oxygen deprived for at least 12-15 minutes, and they haven't been able to rule out the possibility of brain damage, so I'm worrying about absolutely everything. And it's a pretty spectacular drop!

Where I live they don't measure baby's length as a rule as it's so difficult to get an accurate reading (trying to straighten a baby's legs is v hard!). So the '1.5cm' growth may actually be quite a bit more.

I'd mention your concerns to your HV and keep an eye on it. From what i know from personal experience and friends/family this sort of thing tends to even out in the end.

Are you sure he was measured correctly and or that it was recorded correctly on the graph. Obviously you can't check the length at birth now, but it may be worth checking his current measurement. I say this because the HV incorrectly plotted my DD's weight on one occasion and at the next weigh-in they were worried about her 'weight-loss' until I pointed out the error.

I've double and triple checked the graph, and used a selection of online calculators as well.

I watched as he was measured both times and they were very careful to be as accurate as possible.

He has his three month check with the PHN (Irish HV) next week so they'll check it again then.

What about his weight? What centile did he start on, and what centile is he on now at 11 weeks?

If that shows a similar drop through the centiles, I would be seeing the GP (not HV), as he is only 11weeks old and may need a much closer eye kept on him especially in view of his difficult start.

My DS4 was weighed and measured every week till about 3 months old because illness affected his appetite and he fell through the centiles. He got very, very thin indeed.

97th at birth, dropped sharply and took 4 weeks to get back to birth weight. Toddling along on his own line around 70 now, but only because he's on high calorie formula. He won't take enough to gain weight otherwise.

Are they sure they got a reliable length measurement at birth?

My DS took almost 6 weeks to gain his birth weight, and the MW and HV doing the measuring sometimes did it very badly and I would point out why! I'm sure it made me very popular (My DH, a GP told me to watch them as he has had his HVs refer babies to clinic with him purely because head, length or weigh not correctly measured)!

Ok, so he's about 70% centile for weight. This should be accurate provided he's always measured in the same way. ie always clothes and nappy off, or always clothes and a DRY nappy on - it might not be accurate if he was measured naked one time, and dressed/with a wet nappy next time!

If he was 70% for weight and 9th for hight, he would be fairly chubby - if he's not chubby, then the height has maybe not been measured well. You can measure it yourself by putting DS on the floor, head against skirting board, and gently pull his leg straight, point his toes to the ceiling and take the measurement from his heal to the wall! This may be a little uncomfortable for him, as they don't like being stretched out.

Whoops, I see you DID watch them doing as accurately as possible!

My DS2 dropped from about 91st to between the 2nd and 9th in the couple of months after birth. He was 10 days overdue (don't know if this has anything to do with it) HV said he was finding where he should be so to speak and this would be the line he would follow from then on. I didn't believe her at the time and worried myself sick especially as OH and DS1 are VERY tall. However he is now 2 and is still between the 2nd and the 9th so this is obviously where he is meant to be.

Given his difficult start and how worried you are, go to the GP and get them to look into it, no harm.