Are Mongolian blue spots an unknown thing?

[Mrsknackered]

Both of my DS's have Mongolian blue birthmarks. DS1 has a completely blue bottom and DS2 has a blue bum cheek and at the top of his spine, a circular blue spot the size of a 2p.
They are noted down in their red books.
At swimming last night, a lady was sitting near us in the shallow end and kept giving me a funny look. She then said, 'think you've been holding wee man a bit tightly!' So I was like 'sorry, what?' And she pointed at his back and said 'that's a nasty bruise for such a young bubba!' (DS2 is 5 months)
I got really embarrassed as I can be a bit wimpy and awkward and explained it's a birth mark but she just kinda 'mmm'ed me!
I felt awkward after and wondered if others had noticed it too and also thought he was bruised :(
Are they not a known about? Should I be making nurseries/schools aware of their birthmarks?

Second AIBU of the week! What's happening to me

Almost all east Asian babies have them! Mine will probably have one when he's born. Just tell people what it's called and act surprised that they've never heard of it.

My youngest had one on her lower spine/bottom and another on her thigh. When someone asked about it rather aggressively, my husband replied "that's where we beat her" with a hard stare. Our backgrounds are Iraqi/Egyptian/Syrian Jews and Essex. But we live in a multicultural area where professionals see them all the time. They've definitely faded, she's 6, but if you look you can find them.

My eldest daughter (now 21) had one at base of spine like a dark triangle of hair,as a ftm I worried like mad about what it was.

I'd never heard of them. Thanks for the info.

My daughter had one on her vulva which didn't stay for long. We are WB but my father was Jewish so I don't know if that made it likely. I do think that Mongolian Blue Spot sounds like a breed of pedigree cat.

We all have them, also cafe au lait splodges, and DD has a few dimples also.
DH's heritage is a bit of a mix and mine is mixed too.

I read up on them when we were ttc, and doubled my dose of folic acid as when you have one, your absorption of folate is low and it's an indicator that you need to take 800mg folic acid every day up to three months before becoming pregnant, and during the pregnancy to lower the baby's chances of cystic fibrosis.

All children who have them need to make sure they aren't deficient in folate when they're ttcing.

Can't believe the racist comment from that midwife Soul, that's appalling. I mean wtf, that's so wrong on all kinds of levels. I hope you reported her (if you had time!)

Sorry, brain fart, I meant spina bifida is reduced with folate supplementation.

They're quite common with Asian babies. The midwife that delivered DD2 thought that I was joking when she mentioned the mark on my daughter and I explained what it was. She went to get a doctor and was quite red-faced when he confirmed what I'd told her. Apparently she hadn't seen or heard of one before.

I've never heard of these but ds2 has a blue mark at the base of his spine that I've always wondered about. I knew it couldn't be a bruise as he's 17 months now and he's had it since birth but no one has ever commented on it! Should I get it written in his red book?

I've got 4 kids and I'm a teacher and I've never heard of them? Never seen a blue bum child either. Is it more common in Asian children?

38cody yes it is more common in Asian children but my children are White British and Black Caribbean. Believe it's common in Hispanic baby's too. Think someone posted about 1% of Caucasian babies have them. Maybe I am wrong though!

Surprised to see how many say 'they go by a year old' DS1 is nearly 5 and no signs of his fading yet.

Many fade by a year but not the majority OP. Don't worry about it. Some are there for life.
Also it is just common in Africans as it is in Asians. And up to 10% of white caucasians according to some literature (so I am not sure why people are questioning their ancestry based on their presence really).

DS had them. He is mixed race - White British- Jamaican. I hadn't heard of them until he was born. More than one medical professional was a little surprised to see them.

Faded away by approx 1 year old.