Baby head measuring <5% percentile - off the chart

[Amylou2420]

Hello, I had my 20 week scan today at 20 weeks exactly. The sonographer told us that he was booking another scan in 2/3 weeks to check up on the baby as the head was measuring small. After looking at the report the head is showing minus 5% on the percentile and totally off the chart which has really worried me.

The sonographer told us not to worry and it can be normal but I can’t seem to find any positive stories with measurements so low.

Has anyone ever had such low measurements and had a success story? I feel like the next 2/3 weeks are going to be hell waiting for further results.

Hi,
In my last pregnancy baby girl was measuring on the 3rd for her HC at 20/40, we were referred to fetal medicine. She kept measuring on the small side but when done by the consultant he got it on the fifth. She then had other issues on scan and I ended up with an amnio at 22/40. But also my dates were a week ahead of when I conceived and it caused major problems for me. But all was completely fine and she caught up. When they have a small HC <5th it can indicate a CMV infection so you could ask your midwife for those bloods to rule it out.
Sorry you're going through this but huge majority nothing comes of it. Also different people get slightly different measurements, I'd enquire about an FMU referral to be seen by a specialist obstetrician not a sonographer.

Sorry I just wrote all that then realised the HC is fine it's the BPD that's small, sorry if that was really unhelpful!!! You haven't been referred to FMU so I'm sure it's just a normal variation as he said xxx

Hello

I have just had the same bpd measurement and similar head circumference - have you been for another scan or heard anymore about what the bpd measurement could mean?

x

DN had those exact measurements. Just verified this with my sil. He was described at the time as a small baby with a small head if that helps & still has a small head. Both bil and sil are small - 5 ft 7 and 5ft 2 respectively.

Since this 20 week scan we were referred to the Fetal Medicine Unit at Kings College Hospital where the HC has dropped down to 1st centile and overall babies weight has dropped significantly too due to this.
I had an amniocentesis to test for chromosome abnormalities, trio exome genetic testing to test for genetic disorders and an MRI to check on babies brain development. We have been prepped for the worst but are praying for the best as there is still a small chance it could be normal.
We have another agonising two weeks wait until our next appointment and test results.
I am now 25 weeks and can feel my baby boy moving constantly but feel the pregnancy has been tainted with constant worry and panic over the last five weeks from the unknown of what’s to come.

My recently born niece was measuring below the 5th centile all the way along. They were referred to fetal medicine, had loads of tests, it was so so worrying. But she was completely fine. Born on the 25th centile.

So sorry OP we had odd measurements with both pregnancies and it’s so unbelievably stressful. Wishing you a healthy happy baby

@Amylou2420 I am sorry you are dealing with all this stress. Waiting for results is horribly difficult and my thoughts are with you. I am sure they will get back to you as soon as they have any news. You may find it helpful to contact ARC

I am so sorry and what a worry for you. I really hope everything comes back ok. Have you only just had the amniocentesis?

im worried about our bpd measurement as our baby is already affected with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and it can sometimes be linked to other disorders. I had an amino yesterday at 21 plus 5 days and have a heart scan tomorrow and mri next week. Such a horrible wait for the amnio results x

I had the amniocentesis on Tuesday 11th April. We heard back really quickly with the first round of results that the tests were negative for Downs, Patau and Edwards Syndrome but our consultant told us in advance she wasn’t expecting these to be positive and it’s the rarer chromosome abnormalities we are looking out for. The earliest we will hear anything is tomorrow but could be the end of next week so just trying to keep busy! It’s such a long wait. X

That’s the same with us as we have already had a private harmony test so it’s more the full results we are after. Let us know how you get on. X

i know it’s difficult but try not to worry - try and keep busy (we had six months of complications with DS so I know it isn’t easy) and if needed get a therapist. But try to remember that there’s a reason why these conditions are checked first - they are the most common.

@Abid101 Keeping everything crossed for you. Please let me know how you get on too xx

Did you hear back anything today? Or is it still too early?

@Abid101 Nope, we haven’t heard today. Today was the earliest we could have heard but dependant on how long the tests actually take. Sat on the end of the phone a nervous wreck all day. Could be any time now and between 2nd May.

When are you expecting your results? What centile was babies head measuring at on your scans? Xxx

Fingers crossed it’s tomorrow before the weekend. We had our amnio on Monday and we want them back by the 2nd as I will be 24 weeks on the 3rd. We had the first set back today but we knew they would be ok as we had an earlier harmony test. It’s the full array that we are anxious about. So at 21 weeks 5 days the bpd was <5th centile and hc 16th but we were having the amnio anyway due to our baby’s diaphragmatic hernia x

@Abid101 I really hope you hear something soon. I will be 27 weeks before our appointment with the consultant on the 2nd May. I’m really disappointed with our original hospital for not referring us to the FMU after our 20 week scan. Please do let me know when you hear anything. Keeping everything crossed for us both xxx

At 20w scan we were diagnosed with RPD and his little pinky finger bent on one hand!!
Which are soft markers for Down though I had harmony test and results were low risk have been referred for NIPT now..
waiting for results, everything crossed 🤞
These 2 weeks wait is the horrible state to be in 😭

Worth asking the doctor to consider craniosynostosis, it's rare but smaller head and being mistaken for Down's it could be consideration.

My baby girl was 3rd percentile for head and also low abdominal circumference (which I notice yours is too).

I had scans every three weeks through second half and as she kept growing and all tests came back negative, nobody seemed unduly worried. When she was born (two weeks late) she was completely healthy and normal, just a very long, slim baby (which she has continued to be!)

My midwife also said she was clearly not an overdue baby due to the amount of that white stuff on the skin, I forget the name of it. In the end we figured that the initial dating scan was probably off by almost two weeks.

We had results back from the MRI yesterday. It’s worst case scenario… a condition called Lissencephaly, a smooth brain.

The case is severe and if the pregnancy continued baby would have a life expectancy of 2 years old if lucky with no quality of life and constant seizures. It’s possible they are already suffering with seizures in the womb but can’t be certain.

We have an appointment on Tuesday afternoon to discuss next steps. As you can imagine we are devastated. Xx

So sorry to hear this. Sending you and your family love and support. X

So sorry op

So very sorry to read this. xx

I’m so sorry. No words just didn’t want to read and go.

I’m so sorry OP. How devastating. Sending you all the strength to make the best decision for all of you and the peace to come to terms with however that looks.