sacral dimple

[bumchips]

I've noticed my baby (9 months) has what I think is a sacral dimple. Her motor skills are very good - early crawler, cruising etc but I'm never sure she understands anything I'm saying and certainly doesn't say any words herself. Been reading about spina bifida - could she have a learning impairment without the physical difficulties? I know that you can't tell a lot at 9 months but I'm tired and tend to fixate on stuff to worry about when I'm tired. Please be gentle with me (name changed for this post)

[OddBoots]

If you have any worries at all then show and talk to your health visitor.

Does the dimple extend into the body beyond skin level or is there hair, discolouration or skin tags around or near it? If the answer to both is no then the dimple is not likely to cause a problem.

Do speak to your HV though, she or he will be able to check things out and guide you.

[PatriciaHolm]

Most sacral dimples are just one of the things, nothing to do with spina bifida. If you are really worried (and I don't see any reason to be) get your GP to take a look ?

[bumchips]

Thanks for your replies. I can't see the bottom of the dimple if you know what i mean- looks a bit like an extra bum hole if I'm honest. No redness or tags or hair or anything though.

[kelda]

My dd2 had this. She was sent for a scan when she was born and it was fine. Ten years later, no problems.

I would be surprised if no midwife, health visitor or doctor hasn't already noticed it. Ask your GP to have a look.

[bumchips]

There's a health visitor clinic I can go to on Tuesday j suppose I just wanted to know people's experiences before then to put my mind at ease (I know I know you can't diagnose over an Internet forum !) just wondering really if it's possible for there to be cognitive / learning problems but no physical difficulties with something like spina bifida.

[OddBoots]

I have spina bifida and no, it doesn't cause learning difficulties on its own, there are related neural tube conditions of the brain but the 20 week ultrasound would have checked for these.

[ThisCakeFilledIsle]

My child had this noted at birth and is now a normal teen.

I was told of the spina bifida connection. In my experience of knowing a few people with spina bifida of different magnitudes none had learning difficulties.

[ohisay]

Just wanted to say I have one of these dimples have to make sure it's kept clean and dry (just like anywhere else!) but apart from that I don't give it a second thought.

[foragogo]

Two of my dc have this and they have no cognitive issues, happy at school. They do have hyermobility, so I often wonder if it's related. They only have it moderately so no major issues luckily. we had some issues with toe walking, holding a pencil etc for one of them but all largely sorted now with a bit of physio. My sister also has a sacral dimple with no issues whatsoever. I don't think you need worrry too much at this stage, maybe get the GP to have a quick look just to put your mind at rest. Oh and theirs also looked very like second bottoms at 9m but flattened out more as they got older so you can now see that they are not that deep.

[bumchips]

Thanks odd.

[bumchips]

Oh and thanks everyone else-- just seen other posts too. To be fair she is rather chubby which might make the dimple look deeper than it is.

[minipie]

Just to add to the above posts. It is totally normal for a 9mo to not understand most of what you say and it is pretty rare for a 9mo to say any words at all! These are not signs of LDs.

[chipface]

My DD was noted to have a hairy sacral dimple in the hospital when she was born. We were told it could be spina bifida occulta, but was unlikely to cause any problems.

Interestingly foragogo she also has some hypermobility. She also has an ASD diagnosis and dypraxia but these are unrelated to the sacral dimple.

[chipface]

Oh and she couldn't roll or crawl at 9 months.