Large, but not misshapen, head?

JuliaJAG

My 29-weeker is now 6 months actual, and for several months, I've noticed that his head seems to be rather large and bulbous. (it pains me to even type that, I love him so much!!) He had an EI evaluation on Wednesday and they mentioned it as well, which tells me it's not just my imagination. They suggested that I have Jack see a neurologist if I'm worried about it.

I don't think he has hydrocephalus (his soft spot doesn't bulge, and he doesn't have sunset eyes or whatever they're called). But does anyone else have any experience with this, and if so, what was the outcome? Would a helmet be appropriate for something like this? His head isn't especially misshapen, although one side does look slightly more bulbous than the other.  

Missa_g

Is your pediatrician concerned? My boys have huge 95th percentile heads for adjusted age whereas weight is 25th percentile and height is less than 10th percentile. Some babies just have big heads and the rest will eventually catch up. Not sure I understand what you mean by bulbous.

ETA: stupid mobile version doesn't like the percent sign so I changed to words.

CTbride79

I am not sure what you mean by bulbous either?  Like PP said, is your pedi concerned? 

At DS's 6 month visit a couple of weeks ago, his head measured large...it had gone through such a big growth spurt in 2 months that his doctor wanted to check and make sure everything was ok and there was no fluid on his brain.  He went from the 10th to 25th percentile (for his actual age, 75th for adjusted), yet his body was still not on the charts, for height or weight.  He sent us for a head u/s, and thankfully everything was fine and DS was just playing catch-up (he was IUGR). 

So perhaps your DS is just doing the same...playing catch up?  Gavin's pedi said eventually everything will even out. 

chickaboo1974

One of my boys had a huge head for his age- we went ahead and got a ultrasound of both of their heads to rule out hydrocephalus.  They both were ok- but my Pedi said that it is not uncommon for preemies to appear to have larger heads.  Now while I can tell Nick's head is larger than John's it is not so obvious to others.

So I don't think it is a bad thing to start with your Pedi and request a ultrasound to rule out hydro, and then go from there.

JuliaJAG

Thanks, everyone. His ped didn't seem concerned either at his 4-month or 6-month, so I brushed it off until the EI therapist commented about it. Maybe "bulbous" is the wrong word... the bottom half of his head (ears down, where his face is) looks fine and perfect. It's above his ears/eyes that the head gets huge... and seems to bulge out just a little on both sides. 

I may consult with a neurologist just to be sure... we love our ped, but peds sometimes don't spot things that a specialist might. Thank you again!