16 week scan - baby has a large head

[ginnyisback]

Hello everyone, I’m just making a post as I’ve been worrying a bit the last couple of days and I don’t really have anyone to turn to because I’m always being told I’m silly and maybe I am. I’m not using this as an excuse but I had anxiety before I became pregnant and I was on medication for it for so many years until I became pregnant and then my GP told me to come off them straight away so I did but I’ve been struggling with my anxiety while I’ve been pregnant (my midwife and GP both know I’ve been struggling with my anxiety) I know everyone gets anxious while pregnant and can get overly worried because it is a worrying time but I think with the hormones and not having my meds anymore has amped my anxiety up to a whole new level and intrusive thoughts too.
My partner and I went for an early gender scan so I was 16 weeks and we were just so overwhelmed with hearing the gender and hearing the heart beat for the first time we were on cloud 9, then I just came crashing back down from my high and straight back to worrying and just expecting the worse. Please don’t judge me this is something I physically can’t control, I was like this before I became pregnant it’s just became worse.
But after having the scan I was looking at my baby’s head and it just looked so big and I’ve looked at other 16 week scans and my baby’s head is just so big compared, the lady that did the scan give a check all round but didn’t mention anything but at the time I didn’t even think about it at all until I started worrying again, I know the lady didn’t express any concern so that’s good but like if anyone else has had this worry? I’m not worrying that they have a big head at all I’m just worried about complications that are related to having a big head.
Sorry this is really long winded and I’m over explaining.
Sorry, thank you.

Don't forget some people DO have big heads - both my husband and daughter have 62cm whereas I'm average size 56.
But if the lady didn't consider it was large (and don't forget if the head is angled more to the screen it will look bigger than further away feet will, then I think you can consider it within normal parameters, And they're viewing many many scans day in day out so they should know.

So they didn't measure the head circumference? If not then you don't really know if babys head is on the large side and should not worry about it. They will do all the measurements at your anomaly scan soon and then you'll know how your babys growth is looking on the centile charts.
I've had babies on the large side and there's nothing wrong with a big head, ours with the biggest head was actually the easiest to birth.

My husband and sons all have large heads. The boys have always been larger than average in the head but tiny body wise ( only noticeable when I have to buy hats)
1.Babies at that age have very large head to body ratios.

1. If nothing was mentioned it try not to worry too much.
2. The size of the head is not that important. What they'll be looking for is too much fluid in the head which is very easy to spot. So if nothing was said then your baby will be very happy and healthy.
3. Your anomaly scan will pick up any problems in detail.

Try to take your mind off it but if you are struggling please speak to your midwife, who should be able to help

I have an anxiety and made the decision to stay on medication when oregnant- might be worth speaking to GP. As you say with hormones as well you don't want your MH to decline if you have spent years trying to manage it.

Sonographer normally measures head and belly and legs etc and it's is normally recorded on the report whereabouts in the percentile range they are. My toddler had a huge head and tiny legs but all within the range for the gestation. I was really worried. He is now super tall with long legs and a perfect little head.

At the NHS check they will check this and flag if it is a concern and a report gets put in your notes. Have you got this scan booked in?

My son was born on the 50th percentile but his head was in the 90s. He just has a big head, my husband and I do so it wasn't a concern. My son is now a very excitable 2 year old everyone is different so fingers crossed

Maybe some mindfulness meditations would be helpful in managing your anxiety and intrusive thoughts? I recommend the Smiling Mind App. Take care ☺️

Thank you everyone, I do feel reassured definitely!
(As you can tell this is my first pregnancy so I’m not well versed on all this haha) thank you for the kind words too! @Ariela thank you, that does make me feel better!
@Chelyanne no it was a private scan for the gender because I’m impatient haha but she looked at the brain a few times and I asked as well does the brain look okay and she just said she’s not looking for abnormalities but everything looks fine.
@Mammyofasuperbaby yeah I think I’ll call my midwife today now and discuss all with her.
@Cactuslove yeah that’s very true it was under control for year then when I came off it was so difficult as I fell straight back into old ways and habits, I’ve got an app with the prenatal mental health team in 2 weeks and my GP and midwife said they will assess if I can go back on my meds so hopefully I’ll be able too! Especially now baby is fully developed and just growing.
@PandaFluff yeah I have it booked for the 22nd of April! So just under 4 weeks away now for my 20 week scan, I should be 20 weeks and 6 days by then!
@Crazylemon86 thank you for sharing, I’m hoping that’s just the case and baby hasn’t got any wrong with her brain or anything like that, I think that’s what I’m most worried about that it’s water on the brain or something!
@AutumnLeafDance thank you for the suggestion! I will define you be downloading that app, I have try mindfulness but my anxiety is cruel and always has a way of taking over :(

Sorry for spelling mistakes there guys! Haha I’m typing way too fast and not checking what I’ve written 🤦🏼‍♀️

I also had a private well-being and gender scan and they didn't do any measurements, I think they do HC from 26wk.
They will do a much more detailed scan looking at all the organs and measurements when you have the anomaly scan. I know it's a constant worry in the 1st half of pregnancy but it will get easier.
I can't wait for my next scan in a weeks time.

@Chelyanne ahh right! No she didn’t measure anything but she did look at heart and lungs, brain, limbs, heartbeat and movement but she didn’t say anything bad at all about baby, does she have to say if something is bad? Sorry that may sound silly but is she obligated?
Yeah it’s just over 4 weeks now until my 20 weeks and I feel like it is forever and forever away :( !
Aww lush! Will this be your 20 week scan? :) exciting!!

They would tell you if there was something that looked concerning and ask you to contact the midwife for further investigation. Sounds like everything was looking good so far so I'd try not to worry too much.
Yes I'll be bang on 20wk, my private scan was half way between NHS scans so nice to break it up. I'm looking forward to not being able to miss her movements when she's bigger, hate this limbo stage where they are easily missed. My last term pregnancy was twins so I had loads of movement at this stage and a big bump, singleton this time so don't feel "as pregnant".

@Chelyanne that’s brilliant thank you! I was hoping so, I did keep asking if everything looked okay and she just kept saying that she’s not looking for abnormalities but from what she’s seen and observed everything looks okay, I can’t wait for my 20 weeks now but I’m also petrified, I sound like a monster but I have just convinced myself that something has gone wrong.
Oh gosh I can imagine you had a lot of movement with twins, I bet that was lush! Yeah I get what you mean, my BMI is high (36) and my placenta is anterior so I’m not expected to feel her any time soon I don’t think!