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Original poster

Paed assessment finally in-head circumference

13 replies

used2bthin · 12/08/2010 11:53

DD's head was found to be just below the 0.4th centile? Does anyone know the relevance of this? I am tough after so many issues with her so don't spare the horses, woul rather know. Paed doesnt seem overly concerned but wants to measure mine and xps heads and to check on dd's previous measurements.

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Original poster
used2bthin · 12/08/2010 12:04

ok just read smething about it being related to poor health or lack of emotional security :-0 someone please tell me tha isn't always true? DD has had so many medical things done to her but I am pretty sure she has always known she is loved! And poor health doesnt really work as her levels have been stable for ages.

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sarah293 · 12/08/2010 12:05

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Original poster
used2bthin · 12/08/2010 12:13

Really? Ok thank you. It has just occured to me that have a ridiculously small head and had a problem with hats for raduation ceremony as even the smallest was too big (and I am not a small person)dd is taller than average for her age though.

Tbh it wouldt take much to make me think all dd's problems are down to me and I always worry that I had to emotionally disconnet with her at the beginning to adjust to how ill she could have got and also to be able to hold her down through various procedures.

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sarah293 · 12/08/2010 12:25

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IndigoBell · 12/08/2010 13:19

My son had a very large head. Then they measured my DH and he had a very large head as well, and so they said it was fine. :)

If you have a very small head, then this is all this is about.

Don't panic yet.

m0nkeynuts · 12/08/2010 16:11

DS1 was referred once because a GP reckoned his head looked big. GP googled for a head size chart (honestly!) but couldn't find one, so put the referral in.

Naturally, we were really concerned & stressed about this, but his head turned out to be ... 50th centile.

My head, on the other hand, is apparently off the chart as it's so massive. Nowt wrong with me though Grin

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/08/2010 16:12

My DD's head was measured at the 0.4th, and then at the 75th at her next appointment, so I am not that convinced of how accurate it is!

m0nkeynuts · 12/08/2010 16:12

(Forgot to add - the paediatrician had measured me first because DS1 having a large head wouldn't matter if me or DH had a large head too - as IndigoBell said. So don't panic!)

Tiggles · 12/08/2010 16:34

Hmmm, my 3yr old DSs head is bigger than his 8 year old brother's head. I don't think DS2 is more loved than DS1, they were born with heads at different ends of the percentiles, DS2 in top few percent, DS1 in bottom few percent and they still are that way around.

Original poster
used2bthin · 12/08/2010 21:30

Ah thanks all of you, I feel a bit silly to have got into suc a panic especially after saying I can take bad news!!

Te first thing Ifound when I googled was a page about head circumference which (amongst other things) linked to an article about children's emotional security and small head growth. Of course this was the one thing I picked up on rather than the more reassuring stuff!

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Lougle · 12/08/2010 21:47

You are thinking of microcephaly. Basically, the rule of thumb is:

Look at child's height/weight. If they are very low on centiles, head circumference is 'in keeping' so no big deal.

Look at parents' heads. If one or both have very small heads, it is likely to be 'constitutional'. ie. it is just the way it is.

However, (as in my DD1's case), if the parents' heads are average/above average (mine is 50th centile, DH's is >98% centile Shock), and the height/weight of the child is significantly more than the centile of the head circumference (DD1's is 25th centile for height & weight), then there is more concern/significance of a low HC centile (DD1's is

Original poster
used2bthin · 13/08/2010 10:37

Hi Lougle thank you that all makes sense- hink Ihave a small head so am hoping thats it although the developmental and brain stuff could also fit with DD- she has a two year delay in some areas and as yet no cause.

As for the other centiles the report says she is 75th centile for weight and 75th to 91st for eight although this is all controlled as she is on steroids for her condition.

Tey have said they want to measure XP and my heads but not when so am guessing its in 9m time when the next appointment is so am guessing that means they arent overly worried or at least there isnt much that could be done or something.

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PawMum · 13/08/2010 14:04

I think they just like to think there is a cause for the delays, that is all. My child is microcephalic aswell but my head is small, infact i googled my head measurement and it came up with lots of stories about people with down syndrome who microcephaly:o

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