small biparietal diameter (BPD) at 23 weeks

[charleypops]

Has anyone had a low BPD on their anomoly scan result?

Just had a really thorough scan and the HC (head circumference) is on about the 45th centile, the front to back about 55th, but the BPD (ear to ear) measurement is only on about the 15th centile.

I'm really very worried. The consultant has tried to reassure me that everything looks ok, but I can't help it.

CHARLEY, I had this, don't worry! Same as you, on the 50th -ish centile for abdom and head circumference, BPD on the 5th (so even more extreme)Relates more to head shape than size, and Consultant (I asked too ) said that the abdominal circumference is usually the one to watch (the head is 'spared' I think in IUGR?). As it was, abdominal circumference dropped below 5th by 35 weeks (was being rescanned as I moved health authority), was monitored and told baby would be below 5 pounds. Born a week early 7ib 6 .
Hopefully others will be along to with more info, but I would do what your consultant says and BE REASSURED!!!

thanks Diege, I'm assuming your baby was fine. I'm really tearful and scared, you see my 2 yr old has cp, I don't think I could handle going through all that stuff again.

Yes, she was perfectly fine .

.

Don't worry, its just how baby is at the mo.The HC is actually a much more reliable measure of growth as it measures around babies head- where I currently work BPD isn't used at all. All it means that compared to 'average' your baby is in a position so it looks as if the head is a little longer and thinner- this kind of shape is completely normal (especially when you think what babies head will be going through if you have a vaginal delivery!) as babies skull is designed to mould to the space available. If there was anything to be concerned about your consultant would have said, but from what you've said here it just sounds like the type of situation which has stopped us measuring BPD. [what used to happen when it appeared short was offering another scan after a time interval, say a month or so, but because they realised all these scans worked out normal and didn't pick up on a problem, they stopped doing the extra scans and stopped doing the worrying measurement too!
Its always a worry when something doesn't fit in the average category, but I truly believe from what you've said that isn't something you need to worry about- I'm sure you've got enough already!
hugs, hope your ok.

Don't worry about this. DS was born with a HC in the .9th% (he was 50% for height). I was really worried about this, but his head grew much faster than the rest of him after he was born. He is completely in proportion now, and was accepted into a "gifted" school.

This is exactly what happened to me!

Since the HC was normal I wasn't too worried about neurological problems but I was absolutely convinced that the baby would be born with a very oddly shaped head, the BPD was consistently tiny compared to other measurements.

I needn't have worried the head was perfectly shaped although interestingly the baby had tiny fontanelles.

Hi, thanks for your reassurances, I'd got myself into such a state worrying today, I've not been like this for over a year, I guess the scans and things have brought back lots of bad memories and feelings. I spoke to my consultant and the people that did the scan and they all said it's all absolutely fine and to stop fretting. (mumofk the scan people said the same as you about the head molding - however I most certainly will not attempting a natural birth this time, torpedo head or not...).

Everyone seems to understand why I'm like this though and I'm sure if anything looked at all suspicious they'd tell me. If my son didn't have cp, I wouldn't have given the measurements a second thought I'm sure.

Thanks again, you've all really helped x