Growth scan - please explain

[Chocol4te]

I had a growth scan as my belly didn't grow from last midwife appointment and she referred me to have one. Luckily everything is fine, but can someone explain in depth those percentages and everything?

So the line refers to what is ‘normal’

For example, 50% is normal. So the head circumference (HC) is slightly below ‘normal’
However it is still within the guidelines and no where near either end of the line
Same for everything else

The center of the line (50%) is average. So above the line is above average, below the line is below average.
HC = Head Circumference
AC = Abdominal Circumference
Femur is the length of the thigh
EFW = Estimated Fetal Weight

Hope that helps 😊

Yeah, thought so, now I am worried that 2 are over 60% and one is way below, would you think that something's wrong?

None are very far from 50% at all. And 50% is average rather than normal. None are in worrying areas, they would have said. Al babies are going to be differently proportioned 😊

Not at all. The 60%+ means values that're just slightly bigger than the average.

For example, out of 100 babies, 36 babies will have longer femurs than your baby, 63 will have shorter.

So long as the dot is on that line, your baby is entirely within normal ranges.

To emphasis as PP, 50% means average not normal. So all perfectly normal Fetus’ will have proportions where legs slightly longer/shorter etc, as with adults.

@Chocol4te the 39th centile is hardly “way below” - your baby’s measurements are perfect, you really have nothing to worry about at all. My 2.5 year old was born on the 9th centile and has followed that all her life, she’s dinky but perfectly healthy. Not all babies are on the 50th centile, some are on the 2nd and some the 99th, that’s why the 50th is just an average.

Looks absolutely fine

Thank you all for your replies! That 39% got me worried, at hospital they said all good, but I'm still worried😔 probably it's just me overthinking it.. she still has a couple of weeks to grow though

Trust me, you’re fine.

It is only in the bottom or top 90% where doctors give it a second look, and even then it’s still normal.

Look at it this way...

Take 5 of your friends. Who is the tallest? Who is the shortest? Who have the longest legs? Who has the shortest upper body? Everyone has different ratios and not everyone is the same build

Everyone is different and normal is such a broad spectrum.

Don't worry about the 39th centile. It's really well within the normal range! My baby was measuring around 50% with head and tummy and only 6% with his femur length towards the end of pregnancy. He's a perfect little 5 month old.

Please don't worry or read too much into things. Those numbers are good. The medical professionals would tell you if it's anything to be concerned about.

My little one is on the 5th for everything, but 40th for her tummy. I've been told not to worry, so I'm listening to those who know much more about this than I.

Your baby's values look really good. Try not to worry. I don't know how many weeks you are but baby being estimated almost 3kg it's good.

I was 36w5d last week, now 37w2d, yeah luckily the weight is all within range, just the small head got me worried

If it’s any reassurance, growth scans are normally waaaay of anyway.
I was predicted a 4lb baby from 3 growth scans.

He was 8lb

The head circumference doesn't look either too small.

My kids all had smaller head, they're all fine. Plus if you opt for a vaginal birth that might be a plus.

As pp said, no one is in the 50% perfectly, we're all differently made. Plus if you doctors said it's all good, trust them. It does look all good from what you've posted.

They all look fine, remember with a scan it’s estimated too, so for all the measurements they got were 39 n 60 you could be closer to 45 n 55 in person.. some babies have bigger or smaller heads too, naturally no ones perfectly down the middle of normal. I’m being monitored after having a small baby, he’s grew into his head but there were no concerns as he looked in proportion, his body weight/length put him on the 5th centile.. his head was nearly on the 75th. He’s now 50th for length n weight with his still slightly big head 10months on.

If they were worried about anything at all they’d tell you.