Baby’s head measuring big at 29 week growth scan

[Gempuddleduck]

Hi all, why is there always something to worry about?? Last week I had my diabetes test and was told my blood sugar was above normal so had a re-test (and horrible wait for the results) only to be told that everything was okay and within normal range.

This week’s worry comes after my 29 week growth scan showed baby’s head is above 95th percentile. Sonographer wouldn’t say anything more than I should discuss at my Dr appointment in a few weeks. Should I be worried? Is my baby going to have a huge head? Has anyone else had this and everything has been fine?

I’ve attached the graphs. Xxx

[Solly-44]

Hi Gem,

Yes my sons head was literally off the chart - as in they used to do a little cross about a cm to the right 🤦‍♀️ the whole way through. It’s why we had extra growth scans. It’s nothing to worry about - what I was told is that it doesn’t suggest anything of concern about the baby, but they pass on very high or low percentiles to the dr to review in case it influences how you give birth. My son does have a bit of a big head but you wouldn’t notice 😂 xx

[Gempuddleduck in reply to Solly-44]

oh this has made me feel so much better!! Thank you thank you ❤️❤️

[Hidden]

Hi,

At my 20 week scan the sonographer measured my baby's head. They found that the ventricles were larger than normal and diagnosed him with ventriculomegaly - a type of hydrocephalus. I was referred to fetal medicine straight away and waited two weeks for the consultant to carry out a growth scan and have another look at the baby's head. I was absolutely traumatised, stressed and in disbelief. The Internet did me no favours. prayed to God more than I'd ever prayed in my life, to make my baby be OK and then when I finally went to see the consultant he was confused and couldn't find anything wrong. The size of my baby's head was well within normal range. 4 months later I give birth to a beauty and healthy baby boy. He's 1 now and his head isn't big.

During my first pregnancy my baby was measured to be larger than normal so I had to have lots of growth scans and a planned c section but she was actually born small and healthy.

Mistakes and miracles can happen. I hope your baby will be fine as well and will be born healthy. Xxx



[Gempuddleduck in reply to Hidden]

thank you so much for the reply and so glad everything was okay in the end! These medics do make us worry don’t they?!? Xx

[Jonesy84]

Hi lovely, my little boy was the same. His head and tummy measured big and he had little legs 🤣 when he was born he was healthy and beautiful and everything looked normal. I know it’s hard not to worry about everything but I’m sure Bubs is fine xxx

[Gempuddleduck in reply to Jonesy84]

it is so hard not to worry - you’re so right! Thank you for the reply, I’m feeling a bit better today xxx

[Dansolo92]

My last baby was on the 95th percentile and they predicted him to be 10lbs but he was only 9lbs....I say only 😂😂. My current baby is also on the 95th percentile but I do have gestational diabetes though. They've predicted all my babies wrong size wise so don't get too worried about it 😊😊

[Shopper85]

i had a big baby and ended up with a c section which is much better for a big baby, doctor touched My baby's head and said baby is not exactly small is she, abit rude I thought Anyway had an emergency c section but if you can, book an elective and stand your ground. Giving birth to a big baby will break your body in half

[Bigblueskies]

hi

I know right? Always something to worry about!

I would say that if it was worrying the consultant would have asked to see you within 48h of the scan. We had the opposite problem with my daughter, they measured her head on the 6th percentile in the second trimester and everyone freaked out. We had to go back and see the consultant urgently in 2 days (worst 2 days of my life) and it turned out she was just at a bad angle and her head was actually more like the 40% percentile. She was born completely normal with a totally average head. Apparently those scans are a bit of an art. If the baby is lying at a funny angle it can throw off the measurement quite dramatically.

Same with my son. His tummy was measuring on the 99th percentile throughout. Not as worrying but had to be rescanned repeatedly because they were worried there was something wrong with his organs…he was born really large but completely normal. He did have a big tummy but nothing weird.

Please don’t worry unless they tell you there is something to worry about. There’s enough stress in growing a baby without the weird scan outcomes.

[Bigblueskies in reply to Bigblueskies]

I should also add that it make no difference at all in the birth that my baby was big (10lb 5oz). I had him at home, no drugs, no complications and no tears or perineum trauma. It felt no different to when I had my daughter who was completely average-sized. Consultants worry about size and birth choices but it is literally only a few centimetres, it won’t matter most of the time. I now wish I had spent less time worrying how I will give birth to my huge baby and more time enjoying the pregnancy.

[Gempuddleduck in reply to Bigblueskies]

thank you so much - this is so reassuring xxxx

[conceptionimpossible]

My sister-in-law had the same thing with her son- she was told he was 99th percentile! Delivery was fine, his head was big but not quite that big. He looks completely normal and in proportion and he’s now a healthy 18 month old.

Equally a friend was told her baby was worryingly small but he ended up being fine. I think measuring is a bit hit and miss and, in most cases, seems to just cause a lot of worry but turn out well. xx