Baby Head Size Very Small on Ultrasound

kiwi6715

I just got my 28 week ultrasound results and am very concerned. While the report said all is fine, my measurements show the baby head at less than 5% while the rest of her is relatively normally.  The estimated age based on her head size is just 25 weeks while the rest is between 28-30 weeks.  Has anyone else seen this?  Are there any additional tests that can be done to tell me if baby is normal?  My actual measurements are:

BPD 62.3 (less than 5th percentile)

HC 258.3 (18th percentile)

AC 238.1 (41st percentile)

FL 58.5 (93rd percentile)

OFD 96.2 (71st percentile)

TCD 32.8 (73rd percentile)

HUM 48.5 (53rd percentile)

CM 8.5 (90th percentile)

ToastieSimons

I would call your doctor and ask for another ultrasound.

Is your baby in the head down position?

If she is already pretty far down and engaged in your pelvis the measurements could be inaccurate.  They could have been measuring on too far of an angle and their measurements are not perpendicular.   If possible, I would ask for a level II u/s.  They're more accurate and detailed and can give you a better idea of what is going on.

OSUx2

If your doctor isn't worried I wouldn't be. I don't know what DD's percentiles were at her ultrasound but at birth her head was 90%+ but her height was less than 5% and she is just fine. As she has grown her proportions have moved closer but she still has a big head on a short body. 

kiwi6715

Thanks. I don't know if I got level II or not.  it says she was breech at time of ultrasound.  I certainly think I am carrying low, but if she is breech her head would be the highest up.  It says my placenta is posteiror, low lying.  Her face looks great on the pictures, big nose bone evident and full lips.  I have just been besides myself since googling the meaning of the BPD and HC measurements with worry. 

ToastieSimons

kiwi6715:

Thanks. I don't know if I got level II or not.  it says she was breech at time of ultrasound.  I certainly think I am carrying low, but if she is breech her head would be the highest up.  It says my placenta is posteiror, low lying.  Her face looks great on the pictures, big nose bone evident and full lips.  I have just been besides myself since googling the meaning of the BPD and HC measurements with worry. 

1)  a small head is called microcephaly.  Do not google it.  You will be convinced your child has everything under the sun all the way to fetal alcohol syndrome.

2) Small heads can run in families.  Just as large heads can, they don't always mean anything is wrong.

3) Microcephaly simply means small head, it doesn't provide any indication to actual brain structure.

If you had your u/s at your OB's office most likely it was not a Level II.  You would have to go to an MFM or peri for that.  Again, I wouldn't worry about it, but I would push to have your doctor reexamine it.

It's also possible her head was so high that your ribs or diaphragm got in the way of the measurements, if her head was towards your spine it can happen.   But it is something that would worry me enough to warrant asking for a follow up.

 

**Lizzie**

Try not to worry....especially if your doctor doesn't seem concerned.  My (almost) 9lb baby was in the 90th percentile for height and weight, and in the 30-ish percentile for headsize until he was about a month old.  He didn't look strange at all, is perfectly healthy and beautiful now at 2 years old, and his head is now in the 75th percentile! Hey, the way I look at it, it made birthing a BIG baby a breeze!!!  

Sarah7736

kiwi6715:

Thanks. I don't know if I got level II or not.  it says she was breech at time of ultrasound.  I certainly think I am carrying low, but if she is breech her head would be the highest up.  It says my placenta is posteiror, low lying.  Her face looks great on the pictures, big nose bone evident and full lips.  I have just been besides myself since googling the meaning of the BPD and HC measurements with worry. 

Sarah7736

kiwi6715:

Thanks. I don't know if I got level II or not.  it says she was breech at time of ultrasound.  I certainly think I am carrying low, but if she is breech her head would be the highest up.  It says my placenta is posteiror, low lying.  Her face looks great on the pictures, big nose bone evident and full lips.  I have just been besides myself since googling the meaning of the BPD and HC measurements with worry. 

 

Try not to worry. I am an ultrasound tech at a High Risk OB office and see this all the time. If the baby was breech at the time of the ultrasound that can bring down the BPD %tile because the babys head is squeezed up againist the anterior wall of the uterus. Nothing to worry about at. Also the HC %tile measurement looks great. All the other measuement on you LO look great also! The BPD percentile is more than likely lower due to the babys breech position. Hope this helps

kiwi6715

Thanks to all for the support! My husband is taking the results to a friend of his today to get a second opinion, but everyone keeps telling me to relax.  I'm trying to stay focused on all the positives and not worry. Hopefully she will measure differently when we go back for another. 

littles518

Kiwi6715 - what was the outcome with your baby?

MrMrsandBaby

My daughter had a small measurement with my first A/S, similar to yours, in the <5% range.  And I googled microcephaly - don't do it.  Call your OB and ask if there is any reason for concern.  Mine sent me to a high risk OB for new measurements and everything was actually perfect - the tech just got a bad measurement.

Talk to your doctor and see what s/he says.