MRI for baby as head is small 42cm - 12 months old

[raisingthree]

My SIL has been asking my advice and I don't know what to tell her.

Her baby was born clinically dead at birth and after and hour of attempting to resuscitate her she was put on a ventilator and airlifted to Nepean Hosptial. She was left on the ventilator overnight and they turned it off the next day and she started to breathe on her own.

Rhianna is now one and is doing extremely well, she doesn't seem to have suffered any effects.

My SIL was told that her head was very small at the 12 month check up (42cm) and that her brain might be growing but not her skull, they also suggested that she may have brain damage (because of the small head).

They recommended a MRI but then told her "don't worry - if she stops breathing, we will have someone there to recusitate her:confused:. Of course my SIL said that there was no way that she was going to let her have the test!

I checked my daughters head size at 12 months as its been commented that she has a small head - it was 43cm at 12 months so I am wondering if its just genetics.

What do you all think??? Has anyone had this problem before?

[beccaboobang]

sorry to hear about your sil's dd. just wondering, why would she stop breathing during an MRI?? I have had one before and it was as simple as being injected with dye and being straped to a table. would they have to put her under anasetic??

[sheep]

How is her head circumference is relation to the rest of her? (proportion wise?)

[raisingthree]

Hi,

Yes - they would be putting her under for the procedure and thats the scary part for my SIL.

The rest of her is growing normally - a little on the small side but normal. She doesn't look out of proportion though.

[*Cj*]

Well if there is brain damage can they do any thing? Or is it a case of wait and see.

If it is a case of wait and see, I would hold off on having the MRI. I wouldn't really think it is worth the risk if there is nothing they can really do.

[sheep]

Is it possible she's just going to be little? 42cms does seem small though.

I side on the edge of caution, early detection and/or prevention is the best tool for anything. If it were me I'd do it, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened in the future knowing that there may have been something we could have done.

All the best xx

[TripleTime]

If it were me, id have the MRI done. Early detection is the best preventive.

My 15mo's heads are around mid 40'scm.

[raisingthree]

Well if there is brain damage can they do any thing? Or is it a case of wait and see.


No - they won't be able to do anything, it will give them an idea of what the future will hold though.

Triple time - the baby wasn't premmie so I guess that is part of the concern also, she was born full term

I guess all they could do is get early detection and be prepared? Although I don't know what they can do to be prepared without knowing the extent i.e. speech etc.

[Amara]

I would imagine it would only be a light sedation for a test like that and it would be very unlikely for anything to go wrong but they have to warn you of the worst case scenarios.

[raisingthree]

I guess her biggest fear is that it will happen again, even if it is unfounded.

I have said to her that I think she should get it done and she just says "I don't know".

[TripleTime]

Triple time - the baby wasn't premmie so I guess that is part of the concern also, she was born full term

I guess all they could do is get early detection and be prepared? Although I don't know what they can do to be prepared without knowing the extent i.e. speech etc.

My 3 are the same age corrected, going from their due date, they are 12 months old ;)

There could be more than meets the eye, remember you cant see everything from the outside.

[raisingthree]

Sorry triple time :o I didn't realise you meant the same age.

I think I will tell her that IMO she should have it done.

Thanks ladies for all your replies.

[TripleTime]

Dont sweat it.

[kiwibird27]

You need to find a paediatrician that u trust... If the brain is growing faster than the skull then it could cause fatal damage... U need to have it checked but u need to find some body who u believe in!!

[mumsy2bee]

My son 12 months has a 44cm head. As for the MRI, personally im the type who would go through with the procedure as i see thats it warranted as they are investigating the small head issue.

[YMo7]

Personally, I would do it...

My DD had an MRI at age 2 and again at age 8. (For different reasons). Both times, due to the nature of her problem, she needed to be put under general anaesthetic, she was fine. She vomited when she woke up and was a little disorientated but after 1/2 hour she was fine...

MRI's cost ALOT of money to perform (not from your pocket) and the Doctor's wouldn't suggest your neice having one if it wasn't neccesary...