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

Not heard of them. When I think of birth marks it's port coloured ones come to mind.

I think those that aren't too bruise like are quite small? Both my DCs ones are large but they have darker skin so it doesn't look as alarming as some that comes up on google image search.

My identical twins looked like little tigers - all over their backs and bums. They are nearly nine and they still have them at the top of their bums.

The paternity questioning thing is really silly. When I looked into it it's also on 1% of white babies too. Both our heritage is very very boring British - but we live In a v multicultural area so HCPs didn't blink - I was shocked though!

I always had a Wikipedia printout on Mongolian spots on my notice board for babysitters though .

I heard about them on judge Judy.
A woman was suing her childcare provider after she reported her to child services for bruising on her child.
I can't remember the outcome though

I've honestly never heard of it! THank you for mentioing it.

My best advice is to not be akward when questioned.
Just be honest and explain: "these are mongolian blue spots. Don't worry, you can't catch it and they don't hurt or harm they child in any way!"

Yes, according to my dm, when HV came round after I was born, she reported my dm to Social Care and dm had to get gp to do emergency phone call to Social care and HV explaining that these were not bruises. This was nearly 40 years ago but would have liked to have thought that times had changed and people, certainly HV's would be more educated about these things.

DS1 had them at the base of his spine. They have faded and gone now. I lived in Asia when my DS was small and I asked the doc for a letter saying what they were in case I came back to the UK and someone thought I was hurting him. I was told it was more usual in olive skin tones.

I would get a letter from your doc saying what it is and keep it handy to give a copy to nursery etc.

Another never heard of it.
More great mumsnet.com education

When you say, "at swimming", was it a class? If you're going to be seeing her every week, I'd print something out about Mongolian Blue Spots and give it to her and say "that's for your information. Thank you for being concerned but this is what it is". And prepare yourself next time to say something like, "it's a Mongolian Blue Spot. Have a Google". Because ultimately if it looks like a serious bruise, people will comment, and worry, with the best of intentions.

“Thought it was common knowledge!”

I really don’t think so. I have heard of them, but never seen one, so I googled it and they really do look like bruises. DD had an unusual birthmark as a baby. It has faded now, so I am aware that there are different types of birthmark, but I can honestly say I have never seen a child with Mongolian blue spot in real life.

I’m glad the subject has been raised because if I had seen a child with those marks in a swimming pool I might have come to the wrong conclusion as well.

My DD (mixed ethnicity) had a Mongolian spot that looked like a bruise. The HV made a very clear note of it in the red book because she said many people didn't know about it and might suspect that we caused the bruising. I'm Indian British and I hadn't realised that not all babies had them! DD is 3 now and it has completely gone.

My mixed-race DS had one on his bottom when he was a baby, but I'd never heard of a Mongolian spot. I couldn't work out why he had a bruise there. My mum was a midwife and explained what they were.

I have one on my shoulder blade, it's faded a lot over the years I think but still looks like a pale blue area of discolouration that is the size of a tennis ball. I'm 47. It's very common in people with Mediterannean heritage which is what I am. Most people don't know what it is, if I'm in a vest top or swimwear I have lost count of the amount of people over the years who have asked "what's that mark on your back?" .its noticeable as I also have very pale skin, but even with a tan it's still visible. If I mention it, people nod, so clearly it's noticed even if they say nothing.

I didn't even know what it was and asked my doctor in my twenties when having a mole looked at and he explained it. I used to be very self conscious about it, but not so any more. As such if I saw someone with one I'd recognise it immediately but know many wouldn't. If anyone asks me I just explain it's a birth mark.

It's very common in people with Mediterannean heritage which is what I am

That's so interesting. My mother is from Southern Italy and I've never heard of it!

Haven't heard of them before so googled.. it does look a lot like a bad bruising so i understand the woman in the pool... I think unfortunately you just need to remain calm when things like that happen and keep educating the ignorant masses (im in that group as well!) I'd rather ppl mention things like that and get educated than turn a blind eye in fear of upsetting someone...

Hi, yes very common in med babies up to 75 percent. Here is blurb from great ormand street hospital on them.

Mongolian blue spots are rare in children of white European background, but very common in children of African, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean or Asian background. As many as three-quarters of children from these ethnic groups are born with Mongolian blue spots. As they are so common, it is likely that they are inherited but we do not yet know how. They can occur in both boys and girls, but are slightly more common in boys, although we do not yet know why

Never heard of them before...might explain the little blue spot I have at the top of my arm lol

My 3 children were born with them and I had to explain this to nursery, holiday club and school staff. I had it written in their Red Book as well for 'evidence'.
Also be aware that these blue patches can occur anywhere on the body, though they are much more common on the buttocks and lower back. One of my dds had it worse than the others, she also had a patch on one shoulder and around her ankles and wrists!! These ones faded more quickly than the back/bottom ones.

Bluntness

that's so interesting!! I'm mixed (Italy, central Europe and Nothern Europe...) and Dh is English, so I'm not surprised our DD doesn't have them. But I have many Italian cousins and I have never heard of it. I mean, I'm surprised. Seeing as we have often been on beach holidays with a lot of people we're related to...

Oh wow. Now I wonder whether I just didn't notice or whether they are uncommon in our family... My Italian family is originally from Campania, I wonder if there are regional differences?

My DS's are mixed heritage of white British and black Caribbean, but my half Chinese cousin who is my age was also born with them.
DS1 is 4 and his blue bum is still blue and hasn't faded yet but because DS2 is much fairer skinned his are a lot brighter and more noticeable.
I can't believe the comment about the tar brush! That is dreadful!

I hadn't heard of them until 20 or so years ago when my friend had a daughter with one, and I've never seen one since. It looked just like a large bruise on the baby's lower back. My friend's ancestry is eastern European and her partner has Mediterranean heritage. Their daughter has olive skin like they do. I don't know if it was noted in her red book though, not sure if that was done then. I think I remember my friend saying that it faded away in time.

Arabella my friends little boy has a completely blue hand, likes he's just dipped it in a pot of paint. But no where else on his body. It's very cute!

I've never seen one in real life. I would tell the nursery staff. Definitely.
Also I do think you may want to just say to people "it's a birthmark called a Mongolian blue spot, quite common in my heritage".
There are people who will say "oh that looks sore" to a child with a port wine birthmark. Most parents just say "it's a strawberry/port wine birthmark, they're very common, it will fade".

My dd was born with a big one on her bum. She is half Asian though. It faded really quickly, can't even remember it being there by her 1 st birthday. She is left with lots of cafe au lait marks though.