22 week scan - baby's got a big head.

[chocolatine]

Hi. This is a blatant request for reassurance. I just had my 22-week scan and baby is measuring 50th percentile for everything except head circumference and diameter where he's in the 90th percentile.
The doctor isn't worried and reassured us that "some babies just have big heads" but my maternal grandma had a baby who had hydrocephalus and I'm feeling really anxious.
Can anyone give me reassuring stories about their problem-free babies who had big heads at the 20-week scan?

I haven't got any specific advice on the big head issue but I do know that the measurements can be way, way out so I really wouldn't worry too much - I would imagine hydrocephalus would be off the chart rather than within the normal range.

My entire baby was apparently huge but he was under 7lbs at birth.

my first dc had a big head measurement, they suspected hydrocephalus and I had extra scans, but with that the ventricles in the brain would be enlarged and I think there would be other signs too. My dc is/was fine and weighed 8lbs and birth but did have a big head.
My baby I am carrying atm also has large head measurements, one of them off the scale but no one has seemed alarmed at all - the measurements can be way out and you have to remember that they are in millimetres - such tiny differences will look big on a scale - your baby has loads of growing to do yet - everything will probably end up in proportion anyway.

Hi - both mine had big heads on the 20 week scans and were absolutely fine, I didn't even think about it at the time. Both are 90 odd centile for this now they are 2 and 5. I would think it is pretty likely that your baby does just have a big head!

If the doctor isn't worried then I'd try not to think about it, though as a fellow worrier I know this is easier said than done Also just a thought do you and/or your husband have big heads as if so the baby could just take after you. Both mine and DHs heads are larger than average.

Hi - thanks for your messages - that was what I needed to hear! Me and DH don't have big heads, but my father-in-law does, so maybe he will look like his grandad...

Thanks again

My friend's baby had a huge head on her 20 week scan (98th percentile, I believe). By the time she was born, the baby had a perfectly normal sized head and continues to have a normal sized head now. Try not to worry too much!

My DD and current bump have big heads. In fact, they told me DD's was so big she would get stuck at one point (rubbish, was induced at 38 weeks and was 6lb 4oz). Bump's head is about ten days ahead of the other measurements. DD does have to wear big hats though.

I think Hydrocephalus would have shown up on ultrasound.

I have a big head, bigger than my 6 foot dad's from about the age of 15. It's because I'm clever . We all look fairly normal

Thank you so much, it's really reassuring to hear!

I went for a scan with the consultant obstatrition (sp) at 35 weeks and she actually said out loud, my goodness it has a huge head! She was so worried that she asked another sonographer to come and look at my scan who agreed with her. They said to me that I could choose to have a c-section and that if I tried to give birth naturally be prepared to have an emergency c-section. Anyway I gave birth naturally and lo was born with a perfectly normaly sized head and was only 7lb 11oz.

Hi, my baby did have hydrocephalus which they could tell at the twenty week scan so I'm sure if yours did they would have been able to see. I think if the ventricles are enlarged enough to make the head bigger then you would be able to see on the scan.

I have a similar concern. At 20 week scan baby's hc was 189mm. This is at the very top if the normal range. I wouldn't worry but all his other measurements put him exactly average so it seems he is out of proportion. I actually gave a small head and would say DH's is average. Nothing was flagged up as being anything to worry about but I can't help it!

My bump had a 99 percentile huge head and 95 percentile stomach at the 20 week scan (and a long femur) and the sonographer said "Don't worry, you're probably just going to have a big baby."

I had my 32 week scan today and her head and stomach are now measuring 50 percentile so these things can obviously even themselves out. Her femur is still 90% though so she might be a lucky young leggy thing!

My DS is on the 50th centile. His head doesn't even appear on the charts it's so huge...! :0

They checked him for hydrocephalus at birth just to make sure but he just has an enormous bonce!

That's reassuring -thanks. I am hoping it will all even out. Perhaps his head is just growing faster than his legs! I am not due any more scans though so can't find out.