20th percentile at 32 weeks???

[Katy09]

Hi ladies,

I just had my doc's appt and he kind of confused me. He said my baby is measuring small but normal, he said baby is in 20th percentile..

Does anyone know what that means? And also, is that normal and does that mean I will have a scrawny child? Or can he still grow up to be big?

Thanks for your help

 

[minkymoo]

Basically, if you lined your baby up next to 100 other babies with 1 being the smallest and 100 the biggest, yours would be similar to the 20th baby, so not the smallest but smaller than average (50).

Does that make sense?

 

[minkymoo]

and he can absolutely grow up to be big. I was a tiny baby 5lb something and I'm 5'8 and have been since I was 12 (lanky schoolchild, was dreadful lol)

x

 

[Katy09]

Basically, if you lined your baby up next to 100 other babies with 1 being the smallest and 100 the biggest, yours would be similar to the 20th baby, so not the smallest but smaller than average (50).

Does that make sense?

Thanks, that makes sense now!!

Is there anyway I can change that? I'm at 32 weeks, can I eat more to help my baby grow bigger? or is there anything else I can do?

 

[rainbows_x]

Basically means that on average your LO is bigger than 19 babies, but smaller than 80.

Ava is on the 6th percentile, weighing 10lb 30z at 11 weeks old, she was born at 6lb 14oz, So not scrawny

 

[minkymoo]

Basically, if you lined your baby up next to 100 other babies with 1 being the smallest and 100 the biggest, yours would be similar to the 20th baby, so not the smallest but smaller than average (50).

Does that make sense?

Thanks, that makes sense now!!

Is there anyway I can change that? I'm at 32 weeks, can I eat more to help my baby grow bigger? or is there anything else I can do?

There's not anything you can do, LO is the size he is, unless you're not eating enough of course, but I;m sure you are as you'd have to eat very little for it to affect the baby.

Really, don't worry, 20th centile is absolutely fine, mine is higher but OH and I are quite tall so expect a longer/bigger baby xxx

 

[PurpleKisses]

It's not really anything you can do. Just because your LO is small doesn't mean that he's not healthy. I ate all of the time with DS and he was 6lb 13oz, which isn't tiny, but definitely isn't big. He's 4 and has been in the 10th percentile since forever. LO's size is determined mostly by his genes...like I was watching a show about this pregnant lady who was homeless. She lost 15 lbs over the course of her pregnancy...and she was average size to begin with, but her baby weighed 7lbs and some change. I think the only thing that could make a woman have a bigger or smaller baby is if she has complications like GD or preeclampsia/eclampsia...

I wouldn't worry about it. My motto is, as long as baby is healthy don't worry. LO will grow eventually. Personally, I'd rather have a smaller baby as long as their healthy because I know they'll grow and put on weight after birth...which means less back pain, stretch marks and tearing (during labor) for me lol...

 

[Mom 2B]

I know if baby is in or under the 10th % they are considered IUGR. and can be born sickly. My daughter was under the 10th and weighed 4lbs 13oz but she was very healthy so dont worry to much. Tiny babies can still be healthy. And my daughter is 2yrs old and 3feet tall weighing over 30 lbs. They catch up quickly and wont be scrawny for long. My daughter gained 20oz in one week when she was little....which was incredible according to the dr.
So even born scrawny doesn'st mean they will always be scrawny

 

[layneeleigh]

Don't stress over it to much hun unless the doctor expresses concern.

 

[Katy09]

Thank you so much for your responses ladies