Baby's head measuring small at 34+4. Am I right to panic?

[WorriedMumToBe2015]

Just been to the hospital for a scan and they have said that the baby's head is measuring smaller than it should be. I saw on the screen that the measurements were 32+3 for the head but everything else (as far as I could see) was coming up normal.

The sonographer said I might need to be rescanned by the consultant but after waiting around for a bit they said that I just needed to come back in two weeks for another check.

But, I've just got back into the car and broken down in tears. I'm so scared that something is wrong with the baby.

Apparently the blood flow from the placenta to the baby is absolutely fine, and the baby is weighing 4lb 9oz which I think is normal for this stage (but I'm not entirely sure).

Has anyone else been told this before?

I just wanted to reassure you that DD1 had a head measurement 2 weeks ahead at scan at 20 wks and 33 weeks, they monitored her after birth but she is totally fine and just has a large head (like her dad). I know it's not the same as measuring small but please remember that we are all very different.

I worried myself stupid for three months for no reason.

Thanks snowydrops

I hope so CallMeNancy I just felt a bit stunned, I was expecting to see the consultant and instead just handed a leaflet in reception and told to come back in two weeks. Just felt a bit stunned and I feel like I want to ask more questions. Just feel like I'm in limbo for the next two weeks.

Totally agree with the others - everyone is different and they wouldn't have let you go home if they were concerned.

I also wonder a bit how accurate the measurements are sometimes. I had a private 20 week scan and an NHS 20 week scan about two days apart and the measurements in relation to the same dimensions were really quite different. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but a two day time difference could not possibly have explained the discrepancy!

You also need to rember that like adults babies have different physical proportions. DS was always behind on thigh length. Apparently I was going to have a petite baby. What they didn't do was look at my figure. Long body and proportionally short legs. Do you or baby's father have a small or narrow head? Could just be a family feature

The baby may just have a small head, or your dates may be out. If there was anything to worry about they either wouldn't have let you go home, or would have made appointments there and then for further investigations.

We're all different :-) I'm sure baby is very healthy and it won't be long until you meet them :-D

I was given a growth scan at 41+3 as fundal height was measuring small, scan showed that DS was measuring 'normal' and their weight guess from head/tummy/etc sizes was that he was in excess of 9lb. He was born at 4 days later and weighed 6lb 14oz and was perfect in every way!

I would not take it as gospel when they tell you sizes based on these scans, especially this late on. The baby is wriggling round loads, probably changed position 6 times while they were trying to measure!

Also like previous posts have said, everyone comes in different shapes and sizes, wouldn't the world be boring if we were all uniform?

FWIW, DS's pet name from me and his daddy is 'Fat-head'...I can see why they thought he'd be so big based on skull measurements!

I had a growth scan at 33 weeks and was told DD was 4lb 1 too. She was born at 34+4 weighing 5lb 10! They're not very accurate.

Thanks for your reassurance, all. I think I had got myself into a bit of a state this morning. Im seeing my midwife next week so will ask her more about it then.

My first was born at 39 weeks with a tiny head. The circumference was 30cm. I can't remember what the growth scan said the week before though, so that's not much help. But he's not got a small head anymore. In fact I think it's larger than average, his clothes are hard to get over his head!
At least they're keeping an eye on you and you get another scan, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about otherwise they would have wanted to see you sooner.

Thanks Lily