We took Alex to the doctor for her three month checkup. He looked her over and announced that she was perfect all around and totally normal. He then measures her head diameter and height and weight.
The doctor then pulls out a chart and looks up what percentile the baby falls into. He announces that she is in the 50th percentile for head size and the 25th percentile for height and weight at 3 months (11 pounds 14 oz and 22 and 5/8 inches tall).
She was also in the 25th percentile for her 2 month checkup and although the doctor said there was nothing to worry about, it did bother me. Considering that my wife and I were both large babies, it didn’t make sense to me.
Finally, an idea comes to me. I asked the doctor if the percentile chart takes into account that the baby was born a month early. He gives me an Ah ha look and replies no it doesn’t! The charts assume that the baby was full term.
He then went on to say that if he adjusted the chart to account for her being a month early (by taking her current height and weight and applying it to the two month old chart), Alex suddenly jumps up to the 50th to 75th percentile.
Now THAT makes a heck of a lot more sense to me and I am so glad I asked.
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