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AIBU?

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Original poster

Are Mongolian blue spots an unknown thing?

238 replies

Mrsknackered · 28/04/2017 11:52

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 Hmm

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 28/04/2017 14:19

Feedtheshark

Yes my family is all Italian and no one ever mentioned it to me either, hence I genuinely never knew what it was. I suspect they just didn't think about it or see it as unusual and worthy of comment. I also can't recall seeing anyone else with one, but it may have just been I didn't notice as somewhere in the back of my mind I think I have but in the males of my family.

It wasn't till my early teens I noticed it as you dont really look at your back when you're young, and then eventually asked my doctor why I had it and if something was wrong. 75 percent is quite a large amount, the issue with mine is as it's on my shoulder blade it's more noticeable than say bottom of spine or bottom as most vest tops etc expose it. As said, now I'm older it doesn't bother me, but when I was younger I wouldn't wear backless tops etc because of it.

Anditstartsagain · 28/04/2017 14:29

My niece had one thats now faded her HV was ejected from my sisters home after demanding to know why such a young baby was badly bruised. The woman had apprently been a HV 20 years and had no idea what it was. Over the years a few people mentioned it it was gone by about 7/8.

DeadGood · 28/04/2017 14:30

Port wine birthmarks don't fade, do they?

OP - think you need to get used to explaining this, unfortunately, because people will continue to be surprised by it (and probably judge).

DC had a small one, but not visible unless nappy off!

pinkmagic1 · 28/04/2017 14:30

When my eldest was born his bum and back were covered in them and I just assumed they were bruises from the very traumatic birth. The health visitor who was of Italian heritage informed me that they were actually Mongolian blue spots and noted them in his red book
When my 2nd was born, also with the blue spots I had a different health visitor who actually reported me to the social services regarding them! A tearful emergency appointment with my lovely Asian gp soon put her straight but it was a horrible experience that put a bit of a downer on my dd's early days.

Anditstartsagain · 28/04/2017 14:33

Thinking about it my son has a strawberry birth mark on his tummy ive been asked what it is quite a few times so maybe it's just a birth mark thing in general.

skyzumarubble · 28/04/2017 14:34

I had never heard of them until I read about them on here on another thread.

zen1 · 28/04/2017 14:36

My 11 yr old DS has one on the side of his thigh. I was helping him get dry after swimming the other day and was about to ask him how he got the bruise. I'd actually forgotten it was there as he's been getting himself ready for several years now. It really does look like a big bruise and I remember being worried I would get questioned about it when the paediatrician came to discharge us from the postnatal ward, but he explained what it was. Until then, I'd never heard of them.

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 28/04/2017 14:57

Yes, they're not well known among white people. They are very common in the Far East. All my dc have them, despite us both being white Europeans. Each time the midwives were all careful to reassure me that they were birthmarks, not bruises.

I made sure that the marks were noted by our GP, and showed them to nursery when dc started there. It did happen once that dc's keyworker flagged a child protection issue, so it was good that the MB marks were on record.

Iamastonished · 28/04/2017 15:02

"Thinking about it my son has a strawberry birth mark on his tummy ive been asked what it is quite a few times so maybe it's just a birth mark thing in general."

DD had one of those.

bruffin · 28/04/2017 15:05

Im half cypriot and my ds had a large one at the base of his spine. It faded away but did look like nasty bruise

motherofdaemons · 28/04/2017 15:10

Among white people they are pretty unknown. If your son has them I would definitely mention it to anybody caring for him so they don't mistake it for a bruise.

ChessieFL · 28/04/2017 15:58

I have never heard of these before this thread so probably would also have assumed they were bruises.

Am now wondering - when she was little DD had a tiny bruise-like mark by one eye for a few years, which has now gone. I wonder if that was one of these?

marcopront · 28/04/2017 16:26

@Leatherboundanddown you mentioned cafe au lait spots. This can be a symptom of Neurofibromatosis. It might be worth investigating.

Original poster
Mrsknackered · 28/04/2017 16:34

Marcopront that's a huge guess from mention of some birth marks!

OP posts:
NotCitrus · 28/04/2017 16:46

I'd heard of them from a kids' trivia book but wouldn't have recognised them until a Chinese friend had her baby and showed me the baby's bottom. The spots looked like bruises to me.

PlayOnWurtz · 28/04/2017 16:48

I have a dc with a large cafe au lait mark on their lower back that I had to notify nursery about when they were small as it looked like a horrific bruise. It now just looks like a huge freckle

Lonelynessie · 28/04/2017 16:54

Both my dd's have them, my first was covered (think blue legs and arms, forehead, back and bum too). Once it was a boiling hot summers day and she was just in her vest and sun hat and I had someone rush over to me when I was holding her to say 'she's freezing - look at her she's gone blue'. I informed her about the spots and she was astounded - she just didn't have a clue. I did make sure that all spots were pictured and written down in their red books though, just in case.

corythatwas · 28/04/2017 16:56

dd had them and she is of white European ancestry as far as our families can be traced

Lonelynessie · 28/04/2017 16:56

Oh and they've all but one on her back faded now - she's no longer my little smurf Grin

MermaidCafe · 28/04/2017 16:59

I would definitely inform any carer/school/nursery. I am a cp social worker and we have had numerous reports of extensive bruising to children (one little girl said her daddy had kicked her to cause it!) and we had to take them for hospital medical examinations as there was nothing in their records about Mongolian blue spot. Which is what the doctor diagnosed it as. Awful few hours for parents though. we are not in a multi cultural area mind so they are more uncommon here.

Bluntness100 · 28/04/2017 17:01

-Yes, they're not well known among white people

WTAF? They might not be well known in Britain but as nearly three quarters of Mediterranean babies have them I think I shall dispute your statement they are not well known amongst "white people"

Ffs honestly. 😱😱😱.

FeedTheSharkAndItWillBite · 28/04/2017 17:06

Bluntness

Well, quite recently I have been told that I was "clearly" not really white, seeing "as my grandmother was so dark and Italian looking".

It was a very... interesting moment. Maybe Mediterranean babies are by some people not seen as white on a regular basis?
(I'm honestly still somewhat confused by that comment...)

Original poster
Mrsknackered · 28/04/2017 17:13

So if they're not 'white' what are they?!

OP posts:
MadgeMak · 28/04/2017 17:18

Healthcare professionals should be aware of what they are but I doubt the general public would. I certainly didn't know about them until my eldest was born (mixed race) and she had a big blue mark on her bum. They don't always fade, it's still there 6 years later. It is noted in the red book but actually it hadn't crossed my mind to inform nursery or school as to its origins, never had any issues as a result though.

ElloDAAAVE · 28/04/2017 17:26

Firstborn was born with a huge one on the base of her spine...her dad is Greek.
Got the hv to note it in her red book.

Blue spot now gone (she's almost 21), but now she's got scoliosis 🙁

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