HC measurements changing on growth charts?

[Fleur]

DD2 (almost 7mths) had her weigh & measures done yesterday.
The nurse took her head measurements & she has moved from the 75th percentile to the 97th.
Her weight & length remain at 75%.
We are to go back in a month to have it measured again. She was kind of vague about what it could be...she said it could just be that her head has grown a bit more than the rest of her, she also mentioned fluid.

Anyone have any experiences or stories to share?

I have a tendency to freak out over little things although so far I am doing quite well I think

[Mad Scientist]

My dd1 went from 50th to 95th at her six month check up. Now she's off the charts!!! My mchn said to ask my gp about it only because they are supposed to if there is a two percentile jump but she wasn't worried at all because her development was perfectly normal. My gp didn't even bat a eyelid when I asked him about it. He just said she's got a big head! Lol. She doesn't look out of proportion though so I'm not worried at all. She's way off the charts now but her development is still perfectly fine. I was told that if there are no developmental delays it is probably just familial hope that helps

[Curly]

Look, I don't want to alarm you at all but the reason they take note of a sudden jump in percentile bands for head circumference is in case of something going on in the brain, like fluid or a tumour. If it jumps again they MIGHT send her off for a CAT scan. A friend of mine had her MCHN send her DD off for a scan after her DD's head circumference suddenly went off the charts - but she was absolutely fine, just had a big head and a growth spurt.

That anything is "wrong" is HIGHLY unlikely though - both of my kids' heads jumped percentile bands, from 75th to 97th. But DH's family all have massive heads, it is far more likely there is a genetic component involved and you just have a nice healthy big bub. This would be why the MCHN was so vague, a problem would be very rare and she wouldn't have wanted you freaking out unnecessarily.

My DS in particular grew all out of proportion, at some checks his length really increased, other times his weight increased without him growing much lengthways. He even went down percentile bands for his weight.

[Trillian]

I really doubt that there would be an issue. I've seen some kids with massive heads - you could orbit sputnik around them ROFL, but they grow into their heads kwim? Does she look in proportion to you though? If she does then I would say it's fine, she has just had a bit of a growth spurt and her body will catch up. Mind you your MCHN could have measured her head in a slightly different spot to last time too, or the shape of her head could have changed slightly and that could possibly give her a measurement that is vastly different to last time.

[Nai]

DD1 went from 50th to 95th percentile at around 6 months and has stayed there. The MHCN didn't seem to think it was an issue, she just has a big head. DP and I have big heads so it's not surprising however she looked pretty funny at 12m when she was 95th for head, 50th for height and 3rd for weight - like a little lollypop

[Mad Scientist]

It's more common than I thought. Must be a head growth spurt for some kids from 4-6 months!

[wysiwyg]

Every appointment I went to at the MCHN my DD head size was commented on, and like you she was vague really about why is a problem (hydrocephalus seems to be the main thing they are concerned about which is excess fluid on the brain) at 6 months check she said we should mention it to GP next time we visited (we are not frequent visitors to GP so I pressed as to whether should make an appointment and she said yes), saw GP who said yes DD head is large and said to watch for other symptoms (sickly, bulging eyes, bulging fontanelle) and if at next measurement (2 months down line) was off the chart would refer me to a paeditrician. Next measurement she was off chart, different MCHN said 90% of big heads are due to a family reason, but should go back to GP as that is what had been agreed. Saw Paed this week, she basically just checked on DD's development for her age and looked at the curve of her head growth. She is now following a curve but her curve is above 97th percentile, she measured my head (57.4cm) and DH (60cm) and said that DD looks fine she just has a big head due to genetics . If there is a ever a spike in her measurements then we should go back, but if she is following the same curve then all is good. Her head growth spurt seemed to be between 3 and 7 months.(My DD is also 75th for weight and height, hc started at 35 and is now 47).

So I would measure both parents heads, as that made me feel more comfortable about it, and just look out for any of the symptoms (e.g. sicklyness, bulging eyes, fontanelle that is bulging all the time (not the pulsing that is normal)) until the next measurement (I also used to measure it myself just to reassure myself as found I did fixate a bit on the size of her head). As Curly said and as the MCHN and Paed told me most cases large heads are due to family genetics but they just have to be cautious that isn't due to fluid.

[Fleur]

Thanks everyone ... I do feel much better reading all your replies very reassuring.

She looks in proportion to me, and her development is great, none of the other things mentioned, eyes fontanelle etc is all normal... so likely genetics I guess.

It's not something that has ever come up before with any of the other kids so that's probably one reason I worried a bit... but they all throw something different at you, huh

[*Beema*]

Aww hun, she looks just gorgeous in your photo and I am sure if just perfect

We went through a bit of sacre during one of DD's hospital admissions last year, they did all of her measurements and came back with, her height being on the 10th, weight on the 25th and her HC on the 95th We ended up have a few training Dr's and two Paed come and measure and check her over and in the end they decided that it was normal for her as she was showing no unusual signs to be of concern. Just happens to be across a few different percentiles, but she looks perfectly in proportion to me

[Fleur]

Just coming back to update this, we went back to be re-measured today & it has moved up again.

It was 45cm (97th centile), now it is 46.1 - just above the 97th percentile.

So we are off to get an ultrasound - when I can find somewhere that can fit us in!

Dr was reassuring, she said if everything else is great (and it is) then it's probably nothing to worry about....I kind of freaked out anyway, but I'm a sook like that. I'm sure it will be fine

[*Beema*]

Thankyou for the update jasp, I hope the scan goes well for you and your DD It is good to hear the Dr is positive about it as well.

Will be thinking of you and hopefully you get is soon so you don't have to wait it out too long

[Fleur]

thanks Beema.

We had the scan today - I was a bit frustrated when the sonographer said they usually only scan younger babies, at Pie's age the fontanelles are usually too closed to get a good look at the brain. But she did it & must have seen enough, she said she couldn't see any signs of hydrocephalis.

Poor Pie screamed the whole way through though - she did not like having her head held still!

Dr appt on Monday for the report, although I am reassured after today.

[Willow]

I have been through this with both of my melon headed sons Head circs off the charts (literally) and they were both on monthly to 3 monthly checks until at least 12 months (DS2 is only 8 months but have another check up in April and would expect this to continue until he is at least 12 months).

We had xrays and u/sounds done for both boys from about 3 months. DS1 was totally fine, DS2 had borderline fluid build up and they also found a cyst. It was very stressful but our paed ordered repeat scans at the children's hospital (basically more experienced staff and better equipment) and these scans were fine.

Basically both my husband and I have big heads and the boys inherited it. Since going through this ourselves, I have encountered soooooo many parents who have been through the same thing and not ONE baby had anything abnormal going on.

It is stressful but I'm sure she'll be just fine

[Trillian]

I missed the update about needing the scan, but so great to hear that she has had it and is fine, I think you would just know if there was something not quite right kwim? She looks just divine to me in your ticker pic I'm sure that once she is older it wont matter at all what her hc is atm. And remember if it wasn't for kids with the melons and the kids with the tiny heads, there would be no charts in the first place

[Fleur]

Just updating this...
we had a paed appt at the hospital today (were referred after the scan).

It seems the most likely cause of her large head is...me.
Dr pulled out a tape measure & measured my head & said 'uh-huh. thought so'
My head circ is 60cm ... apparently that's big

So all is well

[*Beema*]

Sorry but I had to giggle, wouldn't it have been better for them to do that first!

I am just so glad everything is great

I have just measured mine and it's 56cm, I blame DH his is 58.5

[Fleur]

Sorry but I had to giggle, wouldn't it have been better for them to do that first!

Yup, exactly what I thought!

But he did say they look for a rise across percentiles & the GP referral was the right thing to do. Better to get it checked JIC. In 90% of cases it's mum or dad's head... he said if I hadn't measured big he would have said go home & measure DH

[ss_storm]

good to hear she is ok! Think of it like this...you have a lot of brains...and now so does DD

DD has a big head too, last measurement I think it was at the top of the chart