Height Concerns

rjeller32

We had a wellness check today, two weeks early of her 2 month to get PKU results. They went ahead and just did the 2 mth along with immunizations, and they noticed that she had only grown a half an inch since she was born. When I was at the doctor's they said not to be too concerned, but when I got home they had left a message with my husband to have a nursing check up in two weeks to see if her height has increased. She is gaining weight fine (11 pounds from 8 lbs 7oz at birth), but just not grown taller. They didn't really tell me much about the height issue, and I am wondering if this is an issue that anyone else has dealt with? Could she not be getting enough to eat, causing her height to stay the same? I am not sure if I should be worried, and I can't really find any information as to why this would be a problem...any advice would be great!

ASmallWonder

My disclaimer here is that I'm not a medical professional.  In my experience, while weight can be really affected by lifestyle/nutrition, height is generally less impacted and is far more based in genetics.  Obviously in cases of actual malnutrition this is different but your baby is eating and gaining weight.  It sounds like you've got a shorty on your hands (this is coming from a life long shorty

laura1

LalaMama81:

How many times has she been measured? Just at birth and this appointment? There is a lot of room for user error with measuring length. One or both measurements could have been off. I wouldn't worry too much yet - I'd see what the measurement is at the next appointment, things are probably fine. 

This! 

rjeller32

LalaMama81:

How many times has she been measured? Just at birth and this appointment? There is a lot of room for user error with measuring length. One or both measurements could have been off. I wouldn't worry too much yet - I'd see what the measurement is at the next appointment, things are probably fine. 

She was measured at birth, at a two wk appt and a month appt and only had the increase from 21 to 21.5 at the 2 week appt. Today they measured her 3 time to make sure it was correct, and it stuck pretty clear at 21.5, I really concerned, more confused. The only reason they want to see her again so soon is because she is in the 70th for her weight but the 25th for her height and they want to make sure she doesn't continue to have such a huge difference. I am just confused why they called it a nursing appt if feeding doesn't have to do with her height increase. And I am more wondering what it might mean if she continues to not grow height wise...

erinb82

I think the pp are right, it isn't something that would change with feedings unless she is malnourished, which she obviously isn't. FWIW, my son is in the 90th percentile for height and head size and 30th for weight, an his pediatrician says that he's perfectly normal, just probably going to be tall and thin. But who knows, it's hard to predict when they are this young.

Monkeybutt55

rjeller32:

I am just confused why they called it a nursing appt if feeding doesn't have to do with her height increase.

I may be wrong, but I think that fact that the office called it a nursing appointment doesn't actually refer to feeding. At my pediatrician's office, there are "Doctor appointments" and "Nursing appointments" (i.e., you see a nurse).  Weight, height, and head circumference checks are usually "Nurse appointments" (but if there is anything worrisome or if the parents have questions the nurse can't answer, then the nurse gets a doctor to pop in).

I agree with what an earlier poster mentioned about height/length being a very inconsistent measurement in babies. My little guy has "shrunk" because of differences in how different nurses measured, or how wiggly/uncooperative he may have been on a given day.

Hopefully this reassures you somewhat!

st.augbride

The measurement at birth might have been off, especially if you had a vaginal birth and her head was elongated. At birth, they measured dd at 19.5in, but then at a 2 week appt, she was 18.7! Clearly she didn't shrink. It was just wrong the first time.