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

I'm mixed-race (half Caribbean) and have a blue spot on my nose and another which I rather like by one eyebrow.

I am ancient and they have never faded.

Some people are just plain rude and ignorant. My DD has a prominent port wine stain and I'm sick of explaining to strangers that she hasn't hurt herself. It's been in her red book since birth along with several related letters for hospital referrals etc. I also made sure school and nursery were aware of what it actually was and that she was born with it.

sorry haven't read the whole thread but the title caught my attention as my eldest son, now 17, was born with Mongolian blue spot on his back. We wouldn't have even known what it was, but the midwife pointed it out. My husband is of SE Asian origin, although a couple of generations back, and she told us it's quite a common thing in Asian heritage. Neither of our other two sons had one, and our eldest's is no longer even noticeable. Everyone we've ever mentioned it to has greeted us with confusion: I'd not met anyone else who'd even heard of it until reading this!

I work for Community Paediatrician's and Mongolian 'Blue Spots' feature frequently in the clinic letters that I type up - they are NOT uncommon. Don't explain yourself and don't believe there is anything wrong with your children. They are as common as any other birthmark!!

Anyone who specialises or deals with children lots should know what they are but FWIW most doctors do not do much paediatrics (during medical school or in the first 2 general training years) so it is understandable if many do not automatically know what it is. It is good practice for any health professional who spots it in a newborn to note it in the redbook to avoid confusion

My son (now 6) had one as a baby. It's faded now but we were always aware there was a 'bruise' at the bottom of his spine. Nursery then mentioned it to us (pleasantly) but in a safeguarding type scenario and I was mortified. Took him to the GP and they wrote in his red book it was a Mongolian blue spot. Nursery were really apologetic afterwards. Both me and my husband are quite dark but neither of us have Asian heritage to my knowledge.

I have heard of them and know they are birthmarks and are most common in darker skins. But I've never seen one.

How terribly rude of the woman, I hope she's ashamed of herself! Poor you! I doubt very much that anyone else has taken a blind bit of notice but I agree that keeping a copy of your red book or confirmation from your doctor will put you at ease.

Very interesting thread. My oldest daughter had a huge one on her bottom when she was born. It faded mostly within a year or so. The Scottish maternity hospital were very clued up about it and suggested that it's common in babies of Mediterranean origin. Husband and I are of Scottish and English origin, no non British ancestors as far as we know. I'm quite intrigued by it now.

I had never heard of them until i had my son who had one on the base of his spine/bottom (so no one ever noticed as nappy covered it). His dad is from chile and is a typical birthmark of mediterranean skin (im your typical lilliwhite english person). I would be more confident in your response if asked in future. Withering look/do you know nothing arched eyebrow 😉

I hadn't heard of them to be honest. I have a port wine stain covering my knee and people always say "ouch did you hurt yourself?" etc but believe me when I say it is a birthmark.

I've recently read Han Kang's The Vegetarian, in which he was mentioning mongolian birth mark for pages so this is how I heard about it...

I've heard of it but only because my friends' children have them. My friend is Caucasian and her Husband's heritage is Thai. We live in Leicester which is an extremely diverse city so the Midwife at the hospital recorded it for them.

My dgd who has no Asian heritage had a Mongolian blue spot when she was born!
We had no idea what it was and had never heard of it before.
It faded before her 1st birthday 😊
Definitely worth mentioning it to anyone professional who'll come in contact with DS's.

I had a very prominent birthmark on my leg that friends referred to as my tea stain. It looked like a map of Ireland, am half Irish. Used to vex me.
Now I'm quite old it has almost disappeared. And I'm sad. It was a part of me. I'd never heard of the birthmark you referred to, but I would tell them to be proud of them. It's a mark of where you're from. And will fade with age. And tell anyone that refers rudely about them that you are loud and proud about your origins.

All my children had them and the midwife noted down how many and where they were. They have all faded now. If I hadn't experienced them myself I would presume they were birthmarks or bruises depending where they were on the body. Best thing to do is get them noted down in red book and show the book to any nursery's etc. to make them aware.

I was born with a big one across my lower back and bum. Midwives apparently then panicked and rushed me away to be checked over having never seen it before. Fast forward to my kids being born and the midwife was excited to show her student their bots, she explained it's the sign of having strong Celtic origins. I'd always thought it was of Asian origin from what mum was told when I was a baby. Anyhow, it was down in my kids red books and I was advised to mention it at all medical appointments and school, even though it's faded significantly in both of them over the years.

I am confused by the posters saying LadyPW is mistaken in thinking the marks are blue.

Unless everyone in my family had a special type, or my eyes are broken, they are blue. Right?

My dd has Mongolian blue spot on her bum and along her back she's mixed race, I'm white before I had her I'd never heard of it. As I understand it, its more common in black and Asian children.

I'm constantly worried someone will think it's abuse I don't think it's in her red book either will have to have a check!

Yes carrots I concur, they are blue

Thanks Anna

I've heard of them but never seen one in person. But I'm pretty sure I'd know what it was if I did.

Very rude of the woman to comment though!!

Dd has 2 large birthmarks, both are noted in her red book and I wrote them down on her nursery forms and mentioned them verbally just in case they were unsure of what they were. One is on her genitals and looks like she's been hurt, though she hasn't.

My Eldest son had one but my other two babies didn't. Neither myself or my husband had heard of them until he was born (Husband is Anglo Indian) but it does look like a bruise. They do fade completely fairly quickly

Carrots they range from blue to grey to almost black. Depends on the individual

I'd never heard of them until this thread, and am grateful for being educated