Over reaction or does this mean anything? Size of a baby's head?

Question

My husband friend had a baby- the head is very small for a baby. I have only seen children with large heads? Does the size of a baby's head really mean anything?

OK- now here is the kicker-

1. She drank about 3 bottles while thinking she might be pregnant- like a week or two. She claims it was fine because it's so early.

2. She drank at my wedding at 3 months and claims she didn't.

3. She drank wine the 2 times I saw her at the end of her pregnancy and told me the doctor said it was OK for her to drink wine.

I really don't know how much she "drank" during the whole ordeal but this added to the fact the baby has a small head is really upsetting to me. My husband thinks I am nuts- but I can't be around her or the baby, it's just too upsetting and makes me angry that she drank. Although when confronted- it's lies lies and more lies. My husband says I don't know anything about her but I know what I saw and heard from a trusted friend at my wedding. I grew up with a cousin who was MR because her mother did drugs when she was pregnant for her. My cousin had a small head when she was a baby too.

Even though she is a disgusting person and mother- and I just freaking myself out about the baby?

Answer 1

lol this is too funny...just wait until he gets older to find out

Answer 2

Well my baby's head was in the 10-25th percentile when he was born. I think I may have had a few beers during the first few weeks of my pregnancy, but of course I didn;t even know I was pregnant, we weren't even trying!

But my husband has a small head. So I'm guessing it is hereditary, not because she drank! As long as it continues to grow at a good rate, then the baby is fine!

Answer 3

no she shouldn't have been drinking whilst pregnant...and we're not doctors so can't tell you for certain that the drinking caused the condition with the baby (if there is actually a condition).....but if she isn't a close friend and this upsets you so much, then just have nothing to do with her....cause at the end of the day, while it's upsetting, it relaly hasn't anything to do with you (i know that sounds rude)...but you wanted opinions....

Answer 4

Some babies have small heads, others have large heads. I'm sure that if there is concern the doctor will address it.

~MYODB

Answer 5

Head size is mostly hereditary, and usually doesn't have much of an effect on MR. As to drinking, when you less that 5 weeks pregnant, it is okay, as the organs haven't started forming, and most people don't know they are pregnant, millions drink or do drugs without harm to the child in that period. Depends on what she was drinking at your wedding, but it was after the 10 weeks, so again, didn't harm the baby other than raising the risk for FAS. And my doctor told me it was fine to have up to 2 glasses of wine while I was pregnant too, red wine especially is good for your heart and improves circulation. Again, the MR isn't caused by drugs or alcohol, it's caused by a extra and/or missing chromosome, which is formed instantly in utero as the egg becomes a zygote. This woman doesn't sound like the best mother, but is far from the worst, and the baby sounds fine, a small head means nothing. My daughter was born with a huge head, she has been at 110 percentile since she was born, but because it stays stable, it means nothing, just that she has a large bone structure, like her 7 ft. 450+ lb papa. I'd just drop it, as you do seem to be freaking yourself unneccessairily. Good luck!  

Answer 6

I went searching and found an article about baby's heads being too small then normal. And Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the causes. Not saying that is what the baby has, but if she was a drinker during her pregnancy it "could" happen. None of us are going to be too sure cus we are not Dr's as one poster said.

But you have compassion for the child. I am sorry to hear that a mother knowing that she was pregnant continued to drink all through her pregnancy. There really isn't much you can do , hopefully she is taking care of her baby now. If not, well there is the option of calling the authorities, but I pray that she is being the best mother she can be.

Answer 7

Your husband's right.