Increase in head circumference percentile

piper09

DS2 had has 4 month appointment today.  He is in the 75-90th% for height, 75th% for weight, and 90% for head circumference.  His height and weight have stayed on the same growth curve, but his head circumference has gone from 50% at birth, 75% at 2 months, and now 90%.  The pedi was not concerned, but mentioned that a large jump in percentiles could be a sign of hydrocephalus.  She examined his fontanelle and head shape, which are normal, and noted that he is hitting all developmental milestones appropriately.  She just said he is a big baby.

I can't help but be concerned even though she wasn't at this time.  Neither DH nor I have a big head.  Either does DS1, although he was a smaller baby all around. Does anyone have any experience with this?  TIA!

juliane2004

Yup, DS's head went from like 75% to 90% to 120%, now it's back to about 100%.

He had an ultrasound at 4 months and an MRI at 7 months, and nothing was found. Totally fine. Just a large head. He's "growing into it" now and it doesn't look AS big. lol

We basically just followed up every 2-4 weeks for the past 18 months to check what size his head was. If your pedi is concerned, I'm sure they'll send him for a test. But our experience was that it was fine.

yepyepsms

My DS's was 75%, 90% and then off the charts at his 4 month appt...my pedi never said a word about his head size being a concern.

Hennessy

We are literally going through this right now...and I'm sort of freaking out.  Our LO was 3 1/2 weeks early ( which, depending on the Dr, requires age adjustment for milestones).  He started at the 25% for circumference and was around 70% at his 11 week appointment.  He also seems to be on the slower side of development.  Inconsistent social smiles (although he does do them), not lifting his head on his own when he's on his tummy.   If you adjust for his early arrival this may not be concerning at all... But she wanted to " monitor" him.  Well this weekend he seemed to be sleeping excessively, enough that I was concerned, so I took him to the Dr.  When she considered all these things, (head growth rate, milestones, sleeping) she made some phone calls to get us an immediate appointment with a neurologist.  We are headed there tomorrow and I'm just sick to my stomach with worry.

I even had a breakdown at the drs office.  It's been an incredibly rough 12 weeks.  We've been back to the hospital 3 times already and admitted twice ( once for jaundice when he was 5 days old and then again for abdominal distention).  He's had tons of tests and is diagnosed with severe GERD and MSPI.  We haven't even really managed these problems as were still adjusting medications and now dealing with constipation issues from the formula.  It just kills me to see him in such pain and  distress....I just can't emotionally handle much more!

piper09

Hennessy:

We are literally going through this right now...and I'm sort of freaking out.  Our LO was 3 1/2 weeks early ( which, depending on the Dr, requires age adjustment for milestones).  He started at the 25% for circumference and was around 70% at his 11 week appointment.  He also seems to be on the slower side of development.  Inconsistent social smiles (although he does do them), not lifting his head on his own when he's on his tummy.   If you adjust for his early arrival this may not be concerning at all... But she wanted to " monitor" him.  Well this weekend he seemed to be sleeping excessively, enough that I was concerned, so I took him to the Dr.  When she considered all these things, (head growth rate, milestones, sleeping) she made some phone calls to get us an immediate appointment with a neurologist.  We are headed there tomorrow and I'm just sick to my stomach with worry.

I even had a breakdown at the drs office.  It's been an incredibly rough 12 weeks.  We've been back to the hospital 3 times already and admitted twice ( once for jaundice when he was 5 days old and then again for abdominal distention).  He's had tons of tests and is diagnosed with severe GERD and MSPI.  We haven't even really managed these problems as were still adjusting medications and now dealing with constipation issues from the formula.  It just kills me to see him in such pain and  distress....I just can't emotionally handle much more!

I'm so sorry that you're going through so much with your LO.  Good vibes being sent your way for tomorrow's appointment! 

vjmc21

My DD's head circumference went from the 38% (birth), to the 56% (2 months), on to the 87% (4 months), and is now in the 93%.  We went in for a head ultrasound right after her 4 month appointment and everything appeared fine at that time.  She has, and is currently, meeting all of her developmental milestones, so her pedi is not worried about it.  She was born about 4 weeks early, so all of her percentiles were low at the beginning, but now they're all above average like her head.  Her brother and dad also have large heads, so that makes me a little less concerned as well.

Please, please, please do not google 'increase in head circumference percentile.'  You will just make yourself sick, likely for no reason.  Please learn from my mistake.  If you're still concerned and want to check it out further, I'd recommend calling your child's doctor and asking about a head ultrasound.  It's a quick, noninvasive test, but it can only be done while the fontanelles are still open.  It was fairly cheap, too, considering the cost of medical testing.

byrne15

ds#2's head was in the 95% at birth, then 97% and now it is off the charts.  ds#1 had a head in the 25-50%, so its kind of weird ds#2 has a huge head, but it just seems like that's they way he is and there is nothing wrong.