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Slow head growth - HELP!

7 replies

mumofeve · 20/05/2009 15:23

My DS (8 weeks old) is having his head circumference checked every week as the HV is concerned that the rate of growth is too slow. His head was 36cm at birth, APPARENTLY 38.5cm at 2 weeks, 38cm at 7 weeks and 38.1cm at 8 weeks. Its beyond me how they can be that accurate with the measurement and I think the second measurement must have been wrong. The 1st measurement put him on the 75th/50th centile, the second on the 91st, 50th for the 3rd measurement, and between 50th and 25th today - basically all over the place!. My DS seems to be coming along well. He is smiling and cooing, although the doctor did pick up that his fontanelle was on the small side last week(following the HV speaking to her about the head growth). I keep veering between being sure that everything is okay because he seems so fine, and being convinced the HV and doctor are picking up on some massive problem!!!!! Am dreading going back to the doctor next week for the next check. Has anyone had experience of the same issue and how did it turn out? (BTW, he is on 50th centile for weight, and 91st for length).

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Haribosmummy · 20/05/2009 16:36

I'm sorry... No help.. but bumping and I hope you get an answer soon.

I think your own instincts mean a lot in these situations. He's happy / healthy in other respects?

mumofeve · 20/05/2009 16:38

Thanks - he seems fine in all other ways.

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Haribosmummy · 20/05/2009 16:42

HV's can be the source of no end of worry!

mine put the fear of god in me by telling me that DS was losing weight - I ended up weighing him almost daily on the scales at home (I'd weigh myself, then with him, naked!)

HE was fine. I ended up with issues about my weight

CAn you take him for a second opinion? (Indepedantly of them knowing about any 'problem'??) I would recommend a chap at the Portland if that's an option?

moocowme · 20/05/2009 21:13

it can't be that bad. they took me away after i was born saying my head was to small and i was not going to live. well they got that wrong as i have survived at least 40 years so far and managed to get to postgrad level at university so it can't have been as bad as they thought.

thisisyesterday · 20/05/2009 21:19

ignore them, please!
why on earth has she even been measuring it so frequently??

botyh of mine had theirs done at birth and then never again.
so for all i know they may have abnormally big/small heads. but they're fine

wrinklytum · 20/05/2009 21:21

Hi Moocowme.The important thing is tha your ds is following his milestones accurately.I agree that hv can sometimes be a source of worry.The important thing is that it is being monitored.I come from the ther dside of the coin in that dd has microcephaly and a brain condition and associated delay.As you say if you have a small head yourself it is probably nothing to worry about esp if he seems fine otherwise but at least they are monitoring it etc,so if it were ever to become an issue you are in the system early and can access help IYKWIM XX

mumofeve · 21/05/2009 08:37

Thanks. Thisisyesterday - I totally agree with you about the frequent measuring. My DD's head was measured at birth and at six weeks, and the measurements were never plotted on the growth chart. Because of the worry with my DS, I had a look at her measurements and her head apparently only grew 1cm in 6 weeks, which put her on the 50th centile initially, and then the 9th at 6 weeks. Noone even bothered to look at this - probably because the HV i had then was very laid back!

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