Small Head Circumference

[Krisie]

Hi ladies I really need help and advice. At the moment I’m 24+2.
On my 20 weeks scan my baby’s head measured small on the 3rd centile.
A few days later I was seen by a consultant in the foetal medicine department who confirmed her head was small.
She gave me 4 scenarios of what it could be.

1. An infection that I could have passed on to baby (which has now been ruled out)
2. Start of placental problems
3. Neuro disability or chromosome disorder resulting in severe disability

4.or totally normal with a small head.

I was offered an anmontic needle to test for a chromosome disorder which I have declined due to the risk of miscarriage.

I have to go back on 25 July for another scan, and I’m also going to be offered a mri at 30 weeks.

I just want to ask if anyone has had a Similar situation and what was there outcome.
Most of the disabilities listed basically have the baby 2hour to 2year life span and I’m so worried. Any advice welcome.

All other structures appeared normal however couldn’t view her face due to her positioning. Xx

Thank you for reading x

My baby’s head measured very small, 0.3rd I think with the average of the 3 measurements around 5th centile.
Never had a sit down with a consultant to explain those risks, just extra scans every 1-2 weeks and an induction at 37 weeks as they were concerned growth had stalled.

she’s 8 months now, bright and happy, 25th centile for length and 9th centile for weight and head circumference, her head seems to have caught up proportionally since birth.

My husband’s family is short and slight (whilst I am a gurt lump) so we assume it’s just genetic. Do you have any unusually petite parents/GPs on either side?

I really hope it’s a similarly good outcome for you, the stress didn’t make for a particularly enjoyable pregnancy but it did come right in the end

Thank you

They have really scared me with all the information that have given me. I almost feel pressured into making decisions that I haven't got to make yet.

Thank you for sharing your story I do need to hear good news .x

I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Try and stick to the nhs website for info and stay away from Dr Google
Dont feel rushed into any decisions, the next 15ish weeks are going to go SO SLOWLY
OTOH with potential placental/growth problems after a certain point they seem to decide better out than in, and you can go from routine scan to having a baby very quickly. I had finished training my cover & handover at work by about 32 weeks and then just coasted, which was one less thing to worry about.

Dd had a small head and other "markers" they were threatening all kinds of catastrophic scenarios. She's a super fit healthy 21 year old!

This is amazing x

Thank you ❤️

Hey @Krisie ,

Just checking how is your baby doing? I had a 34 week scan and my baby's head is now measuring under 3rd percentile so it has got me really worried .

Hello hope ur ok, it's hard not to worry I remember feeling so emotional, my baby girl is now 9 days old and she's perfect. Her head had caught up during further scans.
I was also told she was underweight and she weighed 7lb3.
Please try not to worry, they don't always get it right on scans, xx

Hi Krisie,

Thank you for sharing your story. I just had my 20 week scan and the HC was below all the range! We've been referred and seeing someone in a few days. How did the next few scans go in relation to HC growth. I had scans at 12, 16 and 20 weeks. All unfortunately showing a slipping down trend on the range.

Xx

Hi ya, the next scan I had showed her head still on the small side, I was sent for growth scans every two weeks, the following scan after that showed that her head had caught up in growth wise however they still wanted to monitor me, by 28 weeks pregnant I was discharge from feotal medicine as they had no more concerns,

She is 9 weeks old now and in perfect health.
It's hard not to worry because I was devastated but the doctors have to be sure so they do set you up with the worst possible outcome. Hope your ok? X

Hi @Krisie
I had my follow up today, the baby was back on range and at 10th centile, so seemed to have caught up. Same situation as yours, Dr said it's still on the small side.

I just wonder, If they dated the baby incorrectly at 12 weeks, being 1 week wrong would mean the head is 50th centile - food for thought.

I also declined the needle test owing to the miscarriage risk. Your story gives me hope, so thank you for replying back.

Did you happen to give the NIPT test a go? Thankfully your child doesn't have any of the conditions it tests in any case.xx