Bruise on 4 month DS leg- petrified of leukaemia

[miniworry]

I've noticed a small bruise on my 4 month old sons leg this morning and I've fallen down the rabbit hole of google and am petrified it could be leukaemia. He's always been pale and had meningitis at 4 weeks so I'm always so worried about him.

Has anyone's little one had a bruise before being on the move and it not been sinister? I've booked a private paeds appointment for tomorrow morning.

Have included a picture of the bruise

It is almost certainly just a bruise. Leukemia is exceptionally rare and I would only be concerned about bruising if there was multiple very deep bruises.

In the kindest of ways do you think that you might have some health anxiety going on? If you have had a poorly baby it's quite natural to then be a bit fearful about other illnesse.

Thats quite a jump! Bashing one leg into the other when waving them around could have caused that!

I appreciate given his past health issues you're probably very cautious however it's a huge leap to assume it's anything more than a bruise. Just because he's not on the move doesn't mean he's not active. It's much much more likely he's caught it with a toy or even just his fist.

Ok think you need to calm down. Likely just knocked it against the side of the bed or cot or just the floor during tummy time. that's a v minor bruise can barely see it! One bruise does not leukemia make.

I agree it's almost certainly nothing but I can see why you'd be so anxious after his previous illness @miniworry

Hopefully getting checked provides you with some reassurance.

Hi OP

I’m certainly no doctor or anything of the sort but it’s a very slight bruise (I had to zoom in to see it) so the chances are DC has been playing with a toy up and down and he’s hit his leg with it. I brush like a beach (and bruise like a peach! 😆)as do my kids. My DC gets bruises from swinging of wooden chairs! (It’s stopped now since I used a cushion!) so I was like you wondering how and why and went down the same rabbit hole.

My understanding is if there were several and they were deeper and took longer to clear up that could be an indication. I would imagine this time next week it will be gone but I totally understand how worrying things can be.

Thank you so much to you all for your responses.

Yes I certainly do have health anxiety around him, and if I'm honest with myself probably ptsd from that time too, I really thought we were going to lose him when he had meningitis. He also didn't display your typical meningitis symptoms just a fever, so that doesn't help add to the worry.

I've never even given a thought about him dropping toys on it etc! He is holding things now and has started doing a bit of rolling. Everything I read just said 'if they aren't on the move' they shouldn't have any bruises so that sparked my meltdown.

That's completely understandable @miniworry
I have a ds who went through similar to yours as a toddler and is now a 6ft 2 17 Yr old yet I still worry so totally get it!
Hopefully we've all been able to put your mind at rest x

It's understandable.
Have you spoken to anyone about that time?
I have recently had counselling with my HV to help me cope with my daughter's reflux and food allergies whilst managing my own mental health as I have bipolar. My daughters paediatrician was who asked my HV to give me some more support with managing my daughters conditions.
My HV when my daughter was a baby referred me to the infant parenting service in my area and they provided me with nearly 2y of therapy to help with bonding with my daughter following her being a difficult baby and my pnd/ppp.
I know HV often get a bad rep but in my experience with our HV has been very positive and they can go beyond just weighing baby!

Aww, it's so easy to worry, they are so small and precious. It is understandable, especially after the meningitis.

If it helps, one of mine used to bruise very easily, just kicking around on the floor and whatever they do at that stage. Let's hope tomorrow's appointment puts your mind at rest.

I know it is against MN rules, but here's a hug from me.

You ladies are amazing, thanks so much xx