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Original poster

Scan showing baby with large head - worried about abnormalities

26 replies

myletterbox · 30/03/2021 15:41

I am hoping someone here may be able to help. I went for a growth scan yesterday at 28 weeks as my first baby was very small. The measurements this time were showing normal (AC about 70 percentile, femur length 40 percentile) except for the head circumference which was on the 98th percentile.

Both me and my husband are fairly small and big heads don't run in either of our families. Now I'm really worried that something is wrong with the baby. I obviously don't mind them having a big head at all, but I just want to make sure it's not a sign of another issue with their brain development.

Anyone have a head circumference measurement that was large and didn't have a history of large heads in the family? Any other advice?

Thank you in advance to anyone that responds!

OP posts:

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ScarfaceCwaw · 30/03/2021 15:43

Was this raised as a concern by the medical professionals at the scan?

Justmuddlingalong · 30/03/2021 15:44

Can you phone your midwife for a chat? He/she will be able to discuss any worries you have.

Original poster

myletterbox · 30/03/2021 15:54

@ScarfaceCwaw it wasn't raised as a concern but the person doing the scan seemed really inexperienced. I've asked for someone to call me back but I haven't heard anthing

OP posts:

Original poster

myletterbox · 30/03/2021 15:56

@Justmuddlingalong I spoke to the midwife but she wasn't really able to answer any of my questions about the scan unfortunately. She just said the sonographer would've told me is there was something wrong, but I don't trust that the scan was done properly so am feeling very anxious

OP posts:

SleepySlugs · 30/03/2021 15:58

I had the opposite, baby's head was on the 2nd percentile. She was born with perfectly average proportions.

Someone should definitely give you a call and talk through it, but sometimes these measurements mean absolutely nothing, so try not to worry.

BobBobBobbin · 30/03/2021 16:17

I know it’s worrying when measurements are unusual as you always think there must be some reason for it, but I think in most cases the mundane fact is babies come in all shapes and sizes.

After a very average-sized DC1, DC2 had a ridiculously huge head circumference...like off the charts huge. Like you I was quite worried!

He is now a 4 year old who wears adult sized hats but is in every way healthy and normal. He’s quite bright so maybe he has extra brains

He did have a brain scan after he was born which was in part triggered by his head circumference but primarily because he had a neonatal meningitis infection, but the scan was fine.

Original poster

myletterbox · 30/03/2021 16:36

Thanks @SleepySlugs and @BobBobBobbin, I really appreciate you responding and I will try and speak to the midwife again.

I feel like I'm driving myself crazy with worry as prior to my first child we had a measurement that wasn't in the normal range in the 12 week scan (the NT measurement) and a few weeks later I sadly miscarried.

I'd love to hear any more stories or advice that anyone has about babies with large head measurements.

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Elisheva · 30/03/2021 16:58

The scan measurements for DS2 showed
that he had a massive head, I think it was 98th centile, a normal body (50th centile) and little legs (7th centile). I asked about it and they said that it was fine. We joked about this little lad tottering around on his tiny legs dragging his huge head behind him.
He was fine, he did have a big head but not noticeably so.
The difference in size between centiles is not that much, so an extra cm can make a big difference.

Elisheva · 30/03/2021 17:02

Having looked it up, the difference between 3rd centile and 97th centile is less that 8cm!

Mintjulia · 30/03/2021 17:08

My ds was 50 percentile but with a 98 percentile head. Doctors weren't concerned, I'd had an amnio so we already knew he was ok.

I needed help delivering though. I'm quite small.

Ds is fine. No issues.

MeadowHay · 30/03/2021 17:14

Yes my DC head circumference was about 98th centile at birth and weight and length around 25th. However huge heads do run in my family so it wasn't a surprise, they took after me . I also had an assisted delivery but that was because they went into distress after only about 20 mins of pushing and I am as high risk due to concern that they may have been small for gestational age so they wanted her out asap. If I had been left to get on with it perhaps I wouldn't have had an issue with delivery. Also scans are so inaccurate anyway.

Original poster

myletterbox · 30/03/2021 17:21

Thanks for your responses.

@Elisheva and @Mintjulia, I appreciate you sharing your experiences - it's good to hear others have had a good outcome. Do you mind me asking if larger heads run in your families?

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Feelinglikepoop · 30/03/2021 17:23

My son was like this. Constantly had comments about his head size during scans. He’s just got a massive head. No concerns at all with him and he’s just gone two and smashing his milestones.
Your baby probably just has a big head with nothing to worry about

ButternutFairy · 30/03/2021 17:39

Both mine had large heads (DS and DD both had measurements in 98th centile when they were born ) no history of large heads on either side of our families! Both are perfectly healthy and fine. Agree with pp about buying bigger hats though! To this day I have to buy my 5 yo DS hats that are at least 3 sizes bigger. Unless they are concerned about something, I wouldn’t worry about the head size

Original poster

myletterbox · 30/03/2021 17:49

Thanks everyone for your responses. It's so reassuring to hear.

I'd still love to hear more stories if there are any out there!

OP posts:

Mintjulia · 30/03/2021 17:51

No history

Feelinglikepoop · 30/03/2021 17:56

Oh and he’s still got a massive head now. I just think it’s his big brain 😊

Elisheva · 30/03/2021 18:08

I don’t think there’s a history of big heads in the family. My other two dc have more average sized heads!

user20211 · 30/03/2021 18:21

Hi OP, it's always such a worry when measurements seem outside of "normal". I had a huge scare with DD2s femur length that was off-the-charts-small. She's a happy and healthy 2 year old, just a bit petite!

My best friend's DD head was measured on the 99.9th percentile when she was born!! She's a happy and healthy 3 year old now with no issues.

MrsFin · 30/03/2021 18:30

Scans are wonderful, but they are also the cause of lots of anxiety and stress.
Not so long ago you would have had no idea of the size of the baby's head until it was born, and then you probably wouldn't have noticed.
Unless the medical people are concerned, you don't need to be.
I have a large head. I'm fine I think.

TempsPerdu · 30/03/2021 18:34

Had frequent scans with DD due to fibroids and throughout her head measured large and her femur length small - can’t remember exact measurements but something like 85th percentile vs 25th percentile.

When she was born she did indeed have short legs and a large head - 98th percentile for head circumference. GP was initially more concerned than we were as there’s no family history of this and she wanted to rule out hydrocephalus. We were referred on to a paediatrician and had to get SD’s head measured at GP every fortnight to monitor growth.

Upshot is that paediatrician took one look at DD, shrugged and said ‘She just has a big head.’ She’s absolutely fine - early talker but very late walker, which apparently could be connected to her heavier head and developmentally perfectly normal. You only notice her head size if she stands in a row of kids of the same age.

Apparently it is indeed an established fact that larger heads are linked to intelligence

Original poster

myletterbox · 30/03/2021 19:10

Thanks so much everyone for your messages. It’s really good to hear. If anyone else has experienced anything similar I’d still love to hear the stories!

OP posts:

pigglepot · 30/03/2021 20:03

The point with centiles is that everything on the scale is normal. 50th centile just means the baby is in the middle of the range and 98th at the top. I think you would only need to worry if the measurements were off the scale at either end or if the sonography raised concerns.

Original poster

myletterbox · 17/06/2021 20:37

Just in case anyone comes across this thread later and wants an update, I’m OP and baby was born with a head on the 80th percentile - even though last scan at 38 weeks was still showing very large head circumference (over 98th percentile). He’s doing great and there are no concerns at all. Hope this helps reassure anyone else in a similar situation!

OP posts:

JuneJustRains · 17/06/2021 20:43

Lovely news, myletterbox!

DD has a huge head. She was in adult hats at 3. She wears men’s hats as a teenager and she does it with style.

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