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Is Head Circumference Value Of 40.5 Cm Normal?

Posted on Tue, 1 Sep 2015

Question: I have a question regarding my baby girl.

She was born preterm. Her DOB is 20th Nov 2014 while the EDD was 27 XXXXXXX 2015.

Her current weight is 7.20 kg ; height 67 cm ; head circumference 40.5 cm

Is she lagging behind in growth?

I am particularly worried about her Head circumference as most charts online show the min value for a 9 month old girl to be 42 cm. Should I be worried about it?

Also growth chart should be seen according to the actual age or the adjusted age from EDD.
Our current doctor assumes the age to be 9 months only.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please answer my questions - I will be glad to guide further

Detailed Answer:
Hi... I understand your concern. I have a few questions and will guide your further after the answers please.

Questions:
1. What was the birth weight and birth length and birth head circumference?
2. How is the attaining of developmental milestones? Are they age appropriate?
3. Is the stool oily and floats in the pan or does he have loose stools recurrently?
4. Is there any colour change in the hair or skin?
5. Is there any history of recurrent serious infections?

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Thanks for your response. Below is the information you asked for:

Answers:
1. What was the birth weight and birth length and birth head circumference?
Weight --1.46 kg Height -- 41cm Head – 30 cm
2. How is the attaining of developmental milestones? Are they age appropriate?
Not appropriate as per 9 months.
She is NOT able to
     Speak simple works like mama dada
     Crawl on knees (can move on stomach though)
     Able to stand or sit on her own
She is able to
     Respond to her name
     Very active otherwise in playing with toys
     Feeding is also normal

3. Is the stool oily and floats in the pan or does he have loose stools recurrently?
No. Stool is Normal
4. Is there any colour change in the hair or skin?
No such occurrence.
5. Is there any history of recurrent serious infections?
None whatsoever.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your kid perfectly normal do not worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi.... Thank you for the answers. Sorry if I have bothered you with so many questions because as a professional it is not fair on my part to give an opinion without proper history taking.

Your kid is perfectly normal. Please do not worry.

I have checked her percentiles in weight height and head circumference again just now.

Percentiles or centiles any value between 5th to 95th centiles are normal. Her weight centile is at 10th centile, height is between 15-25th centiles and head circumference is less than 5th centile. But as the developmental milestones are perfectly normal for her age you need not worry at all.

Coming to your queries -

1. She is not lagging behind in growth.

2. Head circumference is less than 5th centile. But as the developmental milestones are perfectly normal for her age you need not worry at all.

3. Growth charts should be seen according to chronological age only. But leverage can be given up to 2 years of age for these kids to attain normal growth. But your kid has already achieved normalcy in growth so do not worry.

I wish you kid a bright and healthy future. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. In this way even in health care magic you can follow up always with a single doctor who knows the history of your kid completely. Please find the link below -

www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad