Doctor questioned DD's bruises today

[MiaSparrow]

She's 4. DP took her to the GP for something unrelated and he tells me the doctor immediately took him up on the apparent bruises on her legs. Half of it was felt tip, actually, which DP was able to rub off, but still, the doctor then went on to question DD herself, and exactly how she got them. DP said it really felt as if the doctor had it in for him from the start. (Obviously I wasn't there so can't clarify this).

I know he's only doing his job and yes, it's good they're thorough, but until you've been implicated like that... I've just been feeling really bloody low about it all evening. Am I being overly sensitive?

I should add she's so pale she's practically transparent (Irish and Scottish blood - a real celt), so any bruising really shows up and also, she's a complete clumsy clogs and is always falling over and running into things - but aren't all four-year-olds?

Don't your LOs not have bruises too? Please help me feel better about this.

Ds1 is covered in bruises all the time.

He once fell backwards and bashed his back on the bedside table so had a really bad bruised but with a straight edged, it didn't look good. DH took him to the docs for an asthma check up and they were all over it.

Asked DH what happened then quizzed ds1 who took great delight in explaining how he jumped and booshed and bashed.

Surely bruises can also be symptoms of certain illnesses and so therefore the doctor could have been being thorough in his examination of your dc.

It's unlikely to be something like a blood clotting disorder (which is very treatable), Mia - but from the doctor's perspective, that is probably something that might go through their mind.

With things like this it's worth remembering that there are proposals for jail sentences where a child is failed by the services that are there to protect them. At the moment most people are terrified of this happening and jumping at shadows somewhat. It isn't nice to experience but I suspect it's going to become more common place - and rightly so. It should be standard practice to notice and question things like bruising. 99 times in 100 it would be nothing more than a single conversation but that 1 time could be all important. Perhaps try to see it less as the gp commenting on your child and more as the gp ensuring they are ready and active for that one child who needs them?

I remember us taking DC3 to a&e for the umpteenth time, this tiie with a really deep cut. We could feel the atmosphere change as the nurse read his notes and she started questioning us. DH started to explain how he was an adventurer and we couldn't take our eyes off him for minute. The nurse meanwhile had finished dressing his cut and put him on the floor to play. I interrupted DH and said "look" and DC3 had climbed up the metal work of the bed and was hauling him self on to it. He was 18 months at the time and was very proud of himself. The nurse shook her head and said "guess we'll be seeing a lot of you then." He's 7 now and nothing's changed.

As a mum of a child with SN I get it ALL the time. Every time he has overnight respite (a couple of times a month) they ask me if DS has any bruises and then they check him over and write on his over night report. It is horrible but necessary I guess sadly for those poor children who need closer care.