Birthmark experiences

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My 9 week old has just been referred to the hospital due to their birthmark. Wondering if anyone has been through this and wouldn't mind sharing their experience to help me worry less!

What type of birthmark?

Erm... no idea! Flat, about 4cm from end to end, around 1.5cm at it's widest point. Dark brown. Now has pin-point darker brown spots in it.

Oh right, is it a cafe au lait spot? Mines a port wine stain but you’d know if it was that as they’re dark pink/red and vascular. Is your child white/pale skinned?

Oh right, is it a cafe au lait spot? Mines a port wine stain but you’d know if it was that as they’re dark pink/red and vascular. Is your child white/pale skinned?

Yes, white skinned. Definitely not port wine stain, it probably is a cafe au lait last due to the colour?

Have a look at Birthmark Support Group on Facebook. It's a really informative group.

DD had a strawberry birthmark right next to her eye when she was a baby.
She was under the optician at the hospital until she about 5 to make sure that it didn’t impact on her eye (it didn’t) and it faded away around about that time too. Now you can only see a vague pink mark if you look very carefully when she’s upset/ angry.

My 3 year old has a large café au lait birthmark in the middle of his back. I didn't know it was a hospital matter? Where is your LO's?

My 10 year old has a large red birthmark on the back of one hand. He loves it, and says it's his superpower hand.

Mine has a very large strawberry birthmark on her leg (premmie baby). She had a dermatologist who prescribed glaucoma drops twice a day. It is now pale and much flatter. Should apparently go by the time she’s about 7/8.

Not quite in the middle - bottom of the right shoulder blade. I wasn't concerned initially, but the GP decided to refer at the 8 week check...

My friends son was refered but his was vascular and large on his head. All was ok and he’s a healthy teenager now

I have a large brown birthmark on my arm. I see a dermatology nurse once a year as it's higher risk of skin cancer than normal skin. I've already had a chunk cut out of it and generally they talk about when rather than if. That said I was almost 30 by the time it caused any issues!

Depending on its size they may be consulting above removing it or just giving you information about it.

This was my son's at 5 months old. No medical professionals have ever said anything untoward about it. Hopefully your GP is just being super-cautious.

My daughter and I have exactly the same small birthmark in exactly the same place on the same finger, which she thinks is brilliant. We're birthmark buddies 🤣

That's so lovely. Ds2 and I have almost matching freckles. Mine is on the palm of my left hand just below my first finger. Ds2 has one in the same place but on the sole of his left foot.

That's larger than ours, but much, much paler - ours is the same colour as my dark brown hair! So i wonder if its colour is causing more concern from the GP.

This is helpful, thank you!

I know it’s worrying, but I think there are certain procedures they have to follow. My dc was born with a large birthmark (different one to your dc). I had a huge panic when I was casually informed she was being referred to GOSH. I shouldn’t have worried though. She now just goes for a check up every 2 years. And she loves her birthmark.

I thought my son had a birthmark on his face but it is actually a mole. That was a darker brown. We saw a dermatologist who wasn't worried, but said it may need removing when he's older due to its position.