Can someone explain to me how "percentiles" work?

Question

I'm hearing it a lot and though my doctor hasn't said anything yet about what "percentile" my baby is in, I wanted to know before hand hone it works. What percent is good? I'm currently 27 weeks. When will my doctor start measuring with percents?

Answer

Just remember, in order to even have this silly chart, some babies HAVE to be in the 1% and some HAVE to be in the 99%...so whether your baby is small or large makes no matter. Just as long as they are following their own growth curve

Answer

The percentiles just are an average of the baby's size. So if a baby is in the 15% that means that out of 100 babies, the baby being measured is the 15th smallest. Think 15/100...etc. It's just an average, every baby is different and there has to be a baby for each spot! Don't worry too much!

Answer

They never told me percentiles when I was pregnant, just once he was born.

Answer

My daughter was in the 35th percentile for weight at her 2 week appointment, which just means that 35% of babies her age are smaller than her. Or that she's bigger  than 35% of babies her age...however you want to look at it.

Answer

They aren't really all that important. Percentiles are just averages of baby's height, weight, head circumference, arm and leg length, etc. For instance, if your baby is in the 50th percentile for weight, it means they are an average weight compared to other babies. 75th percentile would mean your baby is bigger than average. It really doesn't mean much. Just because your baby is a little bigger or smaller is not an indication of their health. Your doctor may not feel they are important and that is why he hasn't mentioned them. I don't know the percentile of my baby at this point.

Answer

I have only heard about percentiles in referance to babies height and weight after they are born. Don't really understand how they work though :)

Can someone explain to me how "percentiles" work?

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