[amylynn3]

At my son's 2 year check up the doctor commented some concern about the size of my son's head. He is concerned that my son's head is too small. We went back today for a 6 month follow-up and the doctor still seems concerned, but also confused.

Anyone else have experience with this? The doctor is calling it microcephaly which literally translates to small head. The part that is confusing to the doctor is that my ds is not experiencing any developmental delays. The dr suggested having speech evaluated, but there isn't any true concern there. The dr. has lead me to believe that if this was a problem, we would see some significant developmental delays.

We are going in for an MRI on Wednesday, and I am a little freaked out. I would be freaking out more if there was something else apparently wrong...but, there isn't. However, I am a mommy and can't help but wonder and worry.

Any insight would be appreciated. I have searched on the internet previously, but then I just get myself worked up over it. I don't want to unnecessarily get worked up.

My son is small overall, and I don't anticipate him ever being a "big" person. We have actually had people comment that ds's head is big...not small. I am so confused and perplexed, but don't really know what questions to ask or what to think

[arabella-1_.]

I have read several places that babies from Guatemala generally have smaller head circumferences than American babies. Is your doctor aware of this?

[MamaS]

My daughter is from El Salvador and the doctor said the same thing about her head. There were no developmental delays or language problems at any time. She just wears her hair a little bit "fluffy" to cover it up and wears hats a lot. (She looks really cute in hats!) If there are no obvious problems, just buy him a lot of baseball caps and relax.

[WaitingforBrian]

Once the growth of his head has been consistent and growth continues along typical growth pattern coupled with the fact that you are not really concerned with any developmental delays, I would imagine there is not much to worry about. Small kids are small all over, like you say.
Sounds like your doctor just needs to 'make sure' for himself.
I work in the medical field, but haven't done paediatrics for 15 + years but I think mothers still know their kids best, so trust your instincts.
I hope it all works out fine. CHeers Bernie

[Clare'sMom]

I don't know how if I can give you any insight, but I can relate, and sympathize with your fears.

Our daughter was diagnosed in Guatemala as being "microcephalic" and most likely brain damaged also with moderate cerebral palsy, she was very ill when she was a newborn and had a stroke from being on a ventilator for quite a while . Thank God we have a Wonderful Agency Representative that visited our daughter many many times and really had a hard time believing the severity of these findings. She was turned down at 5 months by one family and we gladly accepted her referral after that. She came home at 17 months.

Our daughters head circumference has never made it over the 5% on the growth chart (her height is @ 90% and her weight is at the 60% mark). She was evaluated in Neurology at The Mayo Clinic and we were told "she has a small head"....thats it. They would have liked to have known if this was something that was passed down by her bio-parents, but this is something we will never know. She is now almost 4 years old, in pre-school and dance. She has tested above average in intelligence and her fine motor skills are excellent, yes she has extremely mild CP, nothing ever noticeable to someone who isn't aware of it.

We were terrified that there would be something terrible "Wrong" with our daughter, we made ourselves sick about it. Microcephaly is a huge scary word that has very very little information out there for parents to find comfort in (God knows I skowered the internet for every article ever written) it just seems to be a blanket diagnosis for so many Neurological issues.

I pray that you get the same news as our family did... And that your little peanut head (our daughter nic-name) grows up happy and healthy.

My best to you and your family!!! Ann

[amyfk]

(((HUGS))) to you while you go through testing and this uncertain time.
Amy K, NJ

[mommytoEli]

just a comment about the MRI. my middle child had one at 22 months. it did show abnormalities and we didn't know how it would play out as he got older. while he is experiencing some issues with hyperactivity, which may be a result, he is otherwise a healthy, normal, VERY smart child right on track, if not advanced. SOOOOOO, all that to say, don't freak out....even if something is not quite right....kids overcome many things.... I'll be thinking of you!

[annaguat]

Both my DDs had very small heads but one now has actually a big head. Go figure from below the chart to 65%. The other still has a very small head. Nothing wrong with her though. She is developmentally above target in all areas. Is your son's head pretty much in the same low %? the concern would be if he is falling below the % he was in. It seems many babies from Guatemala have a smaller HC but are just fine. Then there are some that have a much bigger HC. If your son is developmentally doing well and his HC is small but keeps following the curve then he most likley just doesn't fit the US growth based on US children. I hope all is well and it is probably good your pediatrician is paying attention to see if there is a concern. Anna

[karen nickols]

Big head--My niece was repeatatly told her son had a big head. He was referred to a university pedi neurologist. My niece was so scared she insisted Dad go too. The doctor took one look at the three of them and told them they had big heads too! No concerns. I hope all is well.

[debhorner04]

We haven't brought our daughter home yet. However, from the time fo referral (she lost a lot of weight from birth to 6 days later) we were concerned. Throughout all of the monthly measurements we receive, she is at the 5th% in weight, length, and hc. (She may have been a few weeks premature---no confirmation on that) We are in contact with an International Adoption ped. at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Right now, as long as she continues to grow consistently in all 3 areas, they aren't concerned. It really isn't fair to use US growth charts for Guatemalan children.

Have the MRI done, but mommy knows best-----if you thought something was wrong, you'd have had him in to a specialist awhile ago!

Good luck!

[sferrick]

This is one of the first things our case worker told us when getting our referral. The doctors in the US are going to tell you she has a small head, dont worry...she's fine. Guatemalan's have small heads. Some Guats have more average size heads...but its very common for them to have small heads. If he is develpmentally fine, I would so not give this another thought. I would however see if you can find a Pediatrician that has experience with international adopted children....this is what we have done. Hope this helps, Susie

[wvamom]

Our ds number two from Guatemala has a small head. It is growing and he does not have any developmental delays. Our dr. says some children just have smaller heads, and she's not worried about it.

Hope all goes well!
Carolyn

[amylynn3]

Thank you everyone for your advice and insight! I am feeling a lot better. My mommy instinct does say that there is nothing wrong. I never thought to mention to the dr. that Guatmemalan children tend to have smaller heads...duh!!! You never think of the right things to say when you need to say them.

Anyway, we will go through with the MRI, and then I will let this rest. I truly am not worried about it. His head has grown along "his own curve" since birth, but it is not on the American charts. He just hit the 5th percentile for weight at our appointment yesterday. So, I think it is safe to say, he is just going to be small.

Thanks again!

[Gabri]

Nothing to add... I'm just glad to read this thread as we're heading (no pun intended) down the same road. Our pediatrician is concerned about our youngest's head size and wants to do additional tests when he turns 2. He's also otherwise on target, so this was great to read!!

[auntiepippi]

Our daughter also has a small head and it has been on the small side since birth (only 30 cm at birth). It is growing with the curve although pretty far below even the 3rd percentile (now only about 16.75 in at 17 months). I have been worried here and there about it, but she is small all over (about 3rd %ile in height and below the 3rd in weight). Her HC chart looked concerning to me until I really studied it and realized that if her head was just a half inch larger, she would be at the 3rd %ile like the rest of her body. A half inch is not much!

My doctor is not worried about her HC because she is meeting all milestones and seems very bright. He just says smaller head size means smaller hats! It sounds like your son is fine and the tests will confirm that.