[maniac]

Hi,

We're first time parents and we have received an absolutely adorable referral - a little girl, but there is a problem - the international adoption clinic we're using says that her HC is way too small - at less than 3 percentile and they find this very concerning. On the other hand, the pediatrician in Guatemala says that although she has a small head, it is within normal range for Guatemala and he has no concerns. Now my husband and I are totally confused as to what to do.

The little girl was born on 21st February, 2006 and on 30th May (4 months, 10 days) her measurements were

weight: 13.4 lbs
length: 58 cm
HC: 39 cm.

As she was just relinquished a couple of weeks ago, her previous measurements are not known.

I've looked at Dr. Montails charts and she seems to be in the 5 - 10 percentile range, although it's difficult to say.

If any of you could please, please let me know your little girls' measurements at approximately 4 months it would be a real help as I could compare them to our referrals. I'd be very grateful for any comments or suggestions.

Thank you so much

[saranbr]

I would look at all the measurements on the growth chart-- I don't have one at home to plot but you mentioned having some from Guatemala. I'd put weight, length and OFC on that chart and if she's close to the same % for each there shouldn't be a concern. If her head is way lower than weight and length then I would be quite concerned.

One thing to remember about malnutrition (don't know if there are concerns about this, but you mentioned she was recently given up): a normally functioning body is very good at sending available nutrients to the important areas, particularly the brain. Hence, a normal picture in a somewhat malnurished child is a disperportionantly large head to body, not the other way around.

But that is strictly my medical opinion-- don't forget to follow your heart if you feel called to this child.
Sara

[MicheleB]

For little girls from Guatemala - I don't think that measurment is small. I know our daughters head circumference was 33.5 cms at 3 days old and I remember her circumference not being over 39 cms when we went in for her 6 month doctors visit here in the states. She is completly healthy. I have been told by our doctor in Guatemala and our pediatrician here in the states that the size of head circumference is not as important as how much it grows with your babies age. As long as the head circumference grows at the normal rate (not to slow or to fast) - I wouldn't worry!

[Stacytoadoopt]

I pm'd you. but not sure if those measurements look all that bad...

[EmmyLee]

dd @ 4 months, Same weight, a good bit longer (but mine was long long long for her weight from day one) head is 37.5. In my case, she has grown 5.5 cm on the head in the 4 months. I won't try to tell you what to do, but I bet you will see there are several responses that are very favorable. Congratulations.

[mildredjohn]

For a Guatemalan baby I don't think is too small. Maybe they are comparing it with US standards (growth chart).

[DD Amasa]

I don't think those measurements look small at all, let alone way to0 small.

At four months my son's measurements were very, very close to your daughter's:

weight: 13 lbs 5 ounces
length: 60 cm
HC: 40 cm



Just my opinion, but maybe you should get a 2nd opinion from another AI specialist. The point of sending medicals to an IA specialist is so the doctor doesn't just plot a graph on an American growth chart and make judgements, but instead determines if the child is proportional and growing satisafactory and is in line with babies in his own country, esp considering Guatemalan children are smaller than American babies.

[mildredjohn]

I checked Maria JOse's info at her 4 month old and she was 13.3 pounds, 55.4 cms of lenght and HC was 41.6.


I always has thought that she's a big head baby!

SO I don't think is to too small.

[riverview]

my son at3months was 58cm length and40cm head . In person it looked perfectly normal. My pediatrician says the same thing, but they are small people. Have you seen her in person yet? or full body photo?

[CLHsilent]

Here are Lauren Grace's 4 month measurements:

weight - 9 pounds (she was 3.3 at birth)
Length - 53 cm
hc - 37 cm

Now she is 15 months and is perfectly healthy and weighs almost 21 pounds. She was walking before she turned 14 months and has hit all her developmental milestones. In fact, I just took her for her 15 month appt. on Thursday and the doctor was very pleased.

Best of luck!
Christie

[soon2bemom]

The important thing about the numbers is the relative proportion of things to each other. That is why it is perfectly valid to use US growth charts...as long as the weight, hc, and length are roughly following the same line up.

On my growth chart they are virtually proportional.

[tybeemuffin]

Hi! I wouldn't worry about it too much. My little girl's head circumference was only 1cm bigger than your's at that age.

Here are my little girl's stats at exactly 4 months of age:

weight: 12 pounds;
length: 61 cms
head circumf.: 40 cms.

I just saw her 2 weeks ago (at 6 months and if anything her head is normal, if not a little big)

If you want to see some pics of her you can go to my blog:

http://stoefflerfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

I hope this helps.

Take Care,

Sandy



Waiting on my little Guatemalan Princess

5/1/05 : HS Complete
5/7/05: Fingerprinted
6/13/05: I171H (I-797)
7/11/05: Waiting List
12/26/05: My little girl is born
1/18/06: Referral
3/31/06: PA
4/11/06: PGN
5/15/06: PGN KO
6/2/06: PGN Re-Entry
6/18/06: Visit Trip

[Jaime Christine]

Our daughter was 6 lbs 8 oz at birth and 17 inches long. When she was 4 months old she as 12 lbs and 21 inches long.... her head has been in the 3% since she was born. Today she is 15 1/2 months old and is about 18.5 lbs and 31 inches tall.

[royalt]

At 4 months and 8 days, my daughter was 12.8 pounds, 56 cm long, and 39 hc. She still has a small head (3rd percentile with the rest at 25 - 30%), but she is developing right on schedule. I would also rely on alertness, playfulness and any development reports from the doctor in Guatemala if available.

[cheri25]

I think the measurements look pretty normal to me. Our daughters measurements at 4 months were:

weight - 11.4 lbs
length - 60cm
HC - 38 cm

We brought her home when she was 6 months and 1 week, and I just brought her to the doctor's on Thursday for a check up. She just turned 7 months old, and she weighs 14 lbs now and is 25 1/2 inches long. She told me her HC, but I can't remember right now. The pediatrician says she is perfectly healthy and right on target.

Best to you