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MEASUREMENTS
HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE
Normal measurement: 33 to 35 cm (13 to 14
inches). In vaginal delivery, molding may
reduce head circumference (HC) immediately
after birth but it will return to normal size after
two to three days. The HC is actually the
occipitofrontal circumference (OFC).
Comparison to other measurements:
It is approximately equal to crown-rump length (CRL)
or sitting height which is about 31 to 35 cm in term
infants. The relationship of HC to CRL is more
reliable in identifying in high risk infants than that of
the head and chest.
The HC is usually greater than chest circumference
(CC) by 2 cm.
The head is one fourth of the total body length; this is
because the head of the newborn is proportionately
larger than the head of the adult
During the first four months, HC increases by
half an inch a month and in the next 8 months,
by one fourth inch a month.