Percentiles

51% is pretty much bang on average - your baby is measuring “normal.” Honestly, depending on genetics any percentile can be normal, as it’s all based off population stats. They like to keep an eye on the top and bottom 10% - just in case these babies are big or small due to a medical issues. 💗

Percentiles are just data with expected values for all things like head circumference, weight, length and 50 is the average person. Those data will also be used when measuring the weight and height of the baby as it grows. For my 20 week scan the sonographer said that anything above 10% and below 90% is ok but of course if later in the pregnancy the baby is lower/higher than before, there could be recommendations regarding diet or early induction. On the report of the 20 week scan you should have some graphs on the back page that are those data/percentile curves.

It’s sort of like, if you put 100 babies in a row in size order, yours would be baby 51. You could do the same for adults, most of it is just natural variation. There’ll always be a smallest and a biggest. But like Francis said, sometimes with the smallest and biggest they just keep an extra eye, the same for babies that move up or down a lot.

Someone mentioned this and I had no idea what it meant either! I looked at my report for the 20 week scan and I couldn’t figure it out! I’m 26 weeks now and still none the wiser! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

I was given no report at all & when I asked about sizing etc the woman seemed quite moody with me and just wanted to get me in and out but I never got a report… like I said I did have to go back again for more measurements we couldn’t get the first time but still no graph or report which now reading everyone gets one I’m a bit sad I’ve missed out 😂

Thank you everyone

I’m sorry you experienced that! Could you ask your midwife at your next appointment? I definitely will! I saw mine on Wednesday and she said my scan looked good but didn’t mention anything about percentiles!