DS's head isn't growing

[Ryatha]

DS had an appointment today and I was found his head circumference has only increased 1.5 cm since birth 6 weeks ago. This has really dropped him down the percentiles and they want to see him again. He also has really small fontanelles.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm freaking out a bit obviously...

[shiremummy]

No experience in too small but in too big. Freaked me out and I got quite paranoid. DS is now 18 months and perfectly in proportion.

His head might just be catching up or he might just have a small head.

HTH

[HotI]

was he measured by the same person each time? sometimes people measure at different spots on the head which can sway the measurements.

[Kazbah]

[Ryatha]

It's been measured numerous times by numerous people. He had a big head (90 percentile) at birth and now is below 50th percentile

[Ryatha]

We had the follow up appointment. It's still not growing enough so X-rays were taken to see if any of his sutures or fontanelles had fused. Thank goodness they haven't.

So we are seeing the pead once a month to keep monitoring the growth.

[xXHopeXx]

If its any help, my DDs head grows in spurts, for awhile it wouldn't grow at all and it'd be around the 25th-35th percentile or so, then all of a sudden it'd grow, and be up around the 75th-80th! Then go in that cycle again, so on growth charts she has this massive spike then flatline, spike flatline, a few times I got worried, esp. Once it got to the 25th percentile, but then a week or two later it fixed itself, usually after a very fussy week lol, I think if my head grew that much I'd be pretty crabby too though I spose!


Sent from the land of "iSomethings" so forgive me for any spelking misstaks

[Ryatha]

At birth it was on the 75th percentile and at last measurement it's dropped just below 25th. I feel sick thinking about it now and am starting to wear him all the time do people can't see his head. His body and weight are on the 75th percentile so it's starting to be a big difference

[Jakabella]

Both of my kids have Plagiocephaly (sp) basically a miss shapen heads and DS's was pretty bad at the start and they x-ray'd his head and we saw the special surgan at Royal Childrens. They thought his head was growing together to early. It wasnt and it is still going really well...

Hugs hun I know how hard it all is... PM if you need xx

[HotI]

Ryatha, you will notice it more because you are aware, but i reckon most people just see your beautiful little boy. Don't feel like you have to hide him.

My DD had/has big differences in the percentiles of her head to her body too, except the other way around.

[Lisa B]

Big hugs. Those percentile charts have done my head in and still do. I know it's distressing when you see drops in the percentiles. My DS started life with most measurements on 75th percentile. His head dropped down the percentiles and made it's way to the 25th and is possible just under that. His weight continues to drop but he has had illness after illness for the last 6 weeks and is off the chart now. His height remained on the 75th.

I guess what I'm saying is that you aren't alone and those percentile charts are a horrible source of stress (although I'm sure they have a good place). I'm not sure how old your bub is but the thing I learnt was to focus on if he is meeting his developmental milestones. Head size is only one reading but has to be considered along with development. It sounds like you've got some good medical people there to ensure that in the off chance there needs to be some additional support it will be picked up really quickly. Remember a lot of those tests are just to rule out things out and to cover all bases rather than the medical people assuming something is wrong.

[StrawberryMumma]

I can sympathize with you. Big hugs. Our last boy was born with craniosynostosis and had surgery. Different to you story, but I still look at him and see the difference, other people probably don't though.
All the best.