5th percentile | Mumsnet

Amethyst21 · 2021-06-24T21:04:07+00:00

Hi all, first time mum here and a bit anxious and clueless.. so I’ve had growth scan today and baby is measuring 5th percentile and they have booked me in for another growth scan in 3 weeks time. This wasn’t picked up in my 20 week scan but only when I went in for faint movements recently (glad I did!). Just need a bit of advice and info to calm my mind please 😩

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Greenbks · 24/06/2021 22:14

Hi, I had my baby put at the 5th percentile at my 20 weeks scan. I went for my 28 week scan today and she is still on the small side but in the normal range. They said bcos she was picked up as small (but normal) at the 20 week scan it makes sense that she has grown the way she has- like not suddenly become big.

I’ll have another scan in 4 weeks time to check her growth and to check the efficiency of the placenta. I think the risk with smaller babies is the placenta not working as well and baby not getting enough nutrients and as a result not growing as it should.

That’s my experience. It’s interesting yours wasn’t picked up at the 20 week scan and coupled with reduced movements makes me think there may be issues with the placenta. I think it’s only a concern as you go further in your pregnancy - I’m not sure about this but this is the sense I get from Medical professionals who talk a lot about the last few weeks. It sounds incredibly worrying but you have a scan in 3 weeks and they will Book you for further scans after that should you need it- you should also continue monitoring the baby’s movements and go into MAU for any concerns you have

Also, Talk to your midwife about your fears and see if they can offer any other monitoring to help
Ease your mind

Candlecandlesss · 24/06/2021 22:17

I had 3 growth scans with my first, each time because my bump was measuring small. I worried about it at first, but actually I realised, someone has got to be on the 5th percentile and smaller! That's how percentiles work. Anyway it was fine, I just had a smaller than average baby

Original poster

Amethyst21 · 24/06/2021 22:32

@Greenbks

Hi, I had my baby put at the 5th percentile at my 20 weeks scan. I went for my 28 week scan today and she is still on the small side but in the normal range. They said bcos she was picked up as small (but normal) at the 20 week scan it makes sense that she has grown the way she has- like not suddenly become big.

I’ll have another scan in 4 weeks time to check her growth and to check the efficiency of the placenta. I think the risk with smaller babies is the placenta not working as well and baby not getting enough nutrients and as a result not growing as it should.

That’s my experience. It’s interesting yours wasn’t picked up at the 20 week scan and coupled with reduced movements makes me think there may be issues with the placenta. I think it’s only a concern as you go further in your pregnancy - I’m not sure about this but this is the sense I get from Medical professionals who talk a lot about the last few weeks. It sounds incredibly worrying but you have a scan in 3 weeks and they will Book you for further scans after that should you need it- you should also continue monitoring the baby’s movements and go into MAU for any concerns you have

Also, Talk to your midwife about your fears and see if they can offer any other monitoring to help
Ease your mind

Yeah my next scan I’ll be 28 weeks. There were a lot of movements at growth scan baby wouldn’t stop which they said is great. Currently placenta umbilical chord etc look fine (thank god 🤞🏼) but they said they’d get a better idea at 28 weeks. Better safe than sorry I’m happy they’re checking and I’m just praying baby continues growing along the curve and getting the nutrients.

OP posts:

Original poster

Amethyst21 · 24/06/2021 22:34

Aw very true someone has got to be smaller. As long as baby is healthy I’m happy and grateful @Candlecandlesss

OP posts:

ImbarbaraB · 24/06/2021 22:37

My first was on the high end
My second was measured at under 5th percentile at 20 week scan and I was a mess with worry as they suggested it wasn’t normal

Baby came this time last year and is just a smaller baby but still perfectly in proportion

Good luck, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about

BusMum79 · 24/06/2021 22:44

Hi,
I really feel for you- having had three small babies. DS1 was 2nd centile (again wasn’t picked up at 20 weeks, but at another scan further along), DS2 was 5th centile and DD was 5th as well, I think.
Anyway, on a practical level it meant regular scans (usually every fortnight) and they monitored all three closely. I was induced at 38 weeks each time (well, DD turned up of her own accord a few days beforehand) although that was partly because I have IBD so was high risk anyway. The main thing I was told to focus on was that the growth - although small - was even, which is apparently a good sign, so they were all in proportion. Also, as has already been said, someone has to be at the bottom of the charts and you’ll be monitored closely now.
Really good luck- my three are all happy and healthy kids, if a little on the small side still!

Heepers · 25/06/2021 11:13

My baby was born on 7th (I think) at 5lb 9oz. She ate non stop for 4 weeks and was 50th by that point. Try not to worry - centiles are there for a reason so there have to be big and small babies. As long as the baby is growing along the correct projectile then I'm sure it'll be fine. And you're being closely monitored. Good luck x

Sleeplessem · 25/06/2021 11:27

How long was it between your 20 week scan and baby being on 5th centile? I ask because there is a chance baby was on 10th centile (or higher) at 20 weeks and has dropped since OR someone has an incorrect measurement. It could be either.

I had a LG who was born on 5th (for gestation) she tracked it from around 32 weeks. Placenta looked to be functioning well consistently but for a baby under 10th centile they recommend induction at term, just in case (I think there is statistically more of a chance that the placenta will start to fail after 37 weeks). At the time any growth under 10th centile was referred to fetal med, but I think this has changed now to under 3rd centile. I’m not sure induction guidelines have changed though.

My girl was referred to fetal med for her head being on the 10th centile at 20 weeks but fetal med weren’t conceded at all and put a growth scan in for 32 when her efw was estimated at 5th centile so that’s when we were monitored more closely, but her overall size wasn’t picked up at 20 weeks as she was in the normal range x

Merrz · 25/06/2021 12:12

My dd was born on 5th percentile, i was never referred for growth scans or told i was having a small baby but she was perfectly in proportion and no issues at all, very awake and fed well as soon as she was born. Now almost 3 years old and still is petite, some people are just small.

Foreverbaffled · 25/06/2021 12:37

Oh it's such a worry isn't it but it's great you're being monitored.

DS2 was on the 30th percentile at 20 weeks and was down to the 5th at a routine scan at 36 weeks. Cue lots of anxiety and worry and I was induced early at 37 weeks. This was despite the placenta etc looking great. I was unhappy about it all if I'm honest but you have to be led by the experts. Anyway DS2 was born perfectly healthy and on the 25th percentile for his gestation. Doctors concluded the scan just wasn't very accurate.

Anyway long story short is that scans can be wrong and it's good they are monitoring! Chances are everything is fine

LH1987 · 25/06/2021 14:43

Similar to @Foreverbaffled, I had a scan at 36 weeks, my DD was measuring at the 92th percentile, with her head measuring at the 97th percentile. Due to my type 1 diabetes, cue alot of panic on my part and agreeing to an induction at 37 weeks. My DD was born about 6lb so the scan was very inaccurate.

LittleLottieChaos · 25/06/2021 15:04

My son was on the 5th percentile and he’s now a happy active 2.5 year old. He’s perhaps smaller than some toddlers, but was a healthy 6lbs 4 at birth.

My then midwife had no concerns, but due to his lower percentile I have a consultant calling me with regards to my current pregnancy. I am only small myself, it’s just safe to monitor on the off chance there’s an issue with the baby getting nutrients from the placenta. Some babies are however just wee!

Foreverbaffled · 25/06/2021 15:12

Oh just to add as well that my baby's measurements were plotted on a personal growth chart which is based on mums height and weight. Because I'm tall with a higher BMI they expected my baby to be bigger so what was considered a 5th percentile baby for me would have been totally in the range of normal for someone shorter. I get this (genetics etc) but my very tall partner was a tiny and healthy full term newborn so clearly that's genetics too! Anyway lots of variables at play and doesn't mean it's bad.

Gem176 · 25/06/2021 15:26

@Foreverbaffled I didn't know that about the personal growth charts. They have taken two inches off my height... I measured myself after seeing the chart as I guesstimated at my booking appointment because they asked for cms and I'm used to feet 🙈 which has bumped my BMI up a little. Growth scan has put my baby at just under 10th centile and I'm being sent for weekly growth scans now. Think I'll need to ask if the error on my BMI is making them expect my baby to be bigger?

Foreverbaffled · 25/06/2021 15:33

[quote Gem176]@Foreverbaffled I didn't know that about the personal growth charts. They have taken two inches off my height... I measured myself after seeing the chart as I guesstimated at my booking appointment because they asked for cms and I'm used to feet 🙈 which has bumped my BMI up a little. Growth scan has put my baby at just under 10th centile and I'm being sent for weekly growth scans now. Think I'll need to ask if the error on my BMI is making them expect my baby to be bigger? [/quote]
I'd definitely mention it as they might expect your baby to be bigger if your BMI is higher. I've got a real issue with personal growth charts despite the fact they are meant to be more accurate than standardised ones. I get they are better at picking up babies that might be struggling but there is a whole cohort of women (like me) who end up getting induced early for no reason. I guess it's worth it though to help the small minority deliver safely. Ah.

Sleeplessem · 25/06/2021 15:52

[quote Gem176]@Foreverbaffled I didn't know that about the personal growth charts. They have taken two inches off my height... I measured myself after seeing the chart as I guesstimated at my booking appointment because they asked for cms and I'm used to feet 🙈 which has bumped my BMI up a little. Growth scan has put my baby at just under 10th centile and I'm being sent for weekly growth scans now. Think I'll need to ask if the error on my BMI is making them expect my baby to be bigger? [/quote]
They’ve done that to me too, and it’s inflated my BMI, hurts my ego lol.

I don’t think think that it will make them expect baby to be bigger as I think the fundal height charts are based off maternal size rather than fetal med/ growth scan one i think those centiles are more standardised as it’s based on fetal weight xx