Hydrocephalus?

MommynTeacher · April 2012

I'm mildly freaking out here. My daughter had her 6 month check-up yesterday and the doctor said her head grew a lot. She wants her to get a head ultrasound to rule out Hydrocephalus (water on the brain). She has no other symptoms. At her last appt. the baby was fussy and had a small flat spot that is now much, much better so I'm hoping that she just didn't get a good measurement last time. Has anyone been through this and had it turn out to be nothing?

AlwaysSunny925 · April 2012

My sons were both diagnosed with hydrocephalus in Dec 2011. They had vp shunts placed when they were still in the NICU. Usually hydrocephalus comes with other symptoms: irritability, sunsetting of the eyes (baby is constantly looking down), etc.

I think BHilyer's son was sent for a sonogram bc of rapid head growth and it turned out to be nothing. Could just be a growth spurt but your pedi is right to err on the side of caution. When is your appt for the sono?

Edit: Grammar & clarification

MommynTeacher · April 2012

Thank you so much for responding. Her sono is Tuesday morning. I'm trying not to panic, I read about the shunts, and have stopped looking things up because I don't want to make myself crazy over something that might not happen. I know that if she does have it she will be ok but it is still quite stressful but I suppose that is just like as a preemie mom! I hope your boys are doing well!

SWR&MSM · April 2012

Between 4 and 6 months the nugget's head circ. went from the 15% to the 30th while her weight and length did not have a significant change in percentile. We had a head u/s and everything turned out ok. the u/s itself wasn't a big issue because her fontanelle hadn't closed, so it was easy and painless. The anticipation was the worst though. She didn't have any other symptoms other then the big dome. She still has a large head - at her one year it was in the 40th percentile i think while her weight and height are still not on the chart.

Hang in there - its definitely stressful. Good luck with your appts. this week!

here4u · April 2012

Sounds alot like my DD. At her 6 month visit her head grew considerably so they did an u/s and saw fluid, decided to re-check it again in a month. At the 2nd u/s it was the same so they referred us to a Pedi. neurosurgeon. At the 1st appt. with him he sent us across the street to the Children's Hospital for a CT scan. The fluid was about 1 1/2" thick. He started her on a medicine and we went for monthly blood draws to check to make sure the medicine wasn't throwing her electrolytes off. She stayed on the medicine for a year, was discharged from the neurosurgeon and has been fine since. Her head is still measuring in the 98% but the rest of her is growing appropriately, so they aren't concerned with it. GL!

Simonsaysbaby · April 2012

We are in the same boat. Friday was O's 6 month appt and we were also referred to get an ultrasound due to his "super noggin." I am very nervous, but have to say that big heads run in our family, so I am hopeful that is all it is. His head also jumped up a ton in % so that is why they are concerned. I think she said it's 19 3/4 cm...Hope we get good news and good luck to you too! And hey, our kids share a birthday

LWilli35 · April 2012

Bobby has a monster melon as well. He was diagnosed with Benign External Hydrocephalus and his head is still 95% for age. Eh, I think a lot of it is genetic as his grandfather also has an enormous head. Hopefully your situation is similar and it's benign. They just keep a close watch on it and chart its growth. Good luck!

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