Blue birthmarks?

Mongolian Spots as those birthmarks are commonly known are very common on all people with darker skin - including most asian-pacific nationalities and people of african descent. In our typical euro-centric way, most caucasion people dont know much about them. My son has one on his cheek as well. Both boys have some on their torsos as well as their buttocks (the most common place for them). They are just variations in pigment and mean nothing medically. My only suggestion is to have your doctor document them so if ever they are thought to be bruises by other equally uninformed but over zealous social worker/day care provider/ teacher/nosy neighbour, you have pre-existing proof that they arent bruises. That suggestion is repeated in many transracial adoption books and I actually know of a family here in our area that lost their three children for a week on abuse allegations made by a babysitter who saw the spots and reported them as bruises.

Yes, she is right. My children are Asian and they both had them. However, one of them lost it. It was right on her butt, so of course, it did look like a bruise, and she is right. Your doctor needs to document it and give you a copy, because my pediatrician even discussed that with me too. Don't want any over zealous child protectors accusing you of anything!

Our first two children were adopted as infants and were Asian. Our oldest was an older infant, so if she had a Mongolian spot, it disappeared before she came to us. Our next oldest, was just shy of one month, and had a large one around his tailbone. I was already aware of Mongolian spots, before the children arrived. However, my sister came to visit right after our baby arrived, and when changing his diaper remarked, "Hey.....I've tried and tried to remove this place on his bottom, and it won't come off!" (This said, as she was using several diaper wipes on him!!!) Just made me remember!!!!!!! Now, our youngest baby is AA and very, very dark. So dark that sometimes, I think she almost appears to have a bluish tint in places to her skin. And in some places, she has uneven 'darkness'. Same kind of thinking as the Mongolian spots????? Sincerely, Linny

My daughter is full AA and she had lots of mongolian spots when she was first born... There was one on her wrist and hand and tons on her butt and back.. She is now 22 months old and all the spots are gone except the ones that she has on her back.. They are very near her spine and often get darker after she has been in the sun a lot!! I asked my doctor and she said that most fade over time or just disappear... Others will be there forever.. Don't worry about them... She isn't very old is she?

Thanks for your reply. No, she isn't very old......less than 18months. I didn't realize though, that the 'spots' could be in other places besides their bottoms. Sincerely, Linny

Hi. Thanks, everyone, for the information on the blue birthmarks. I just wanted to make sure it's not a sign of something else more serious. The baby is 7 weeks old today. She had an episode of spitting up blood almost 2 weeks ago and the doctors are doing further tests on her blood and the social workers want the results from them before we can take her home. The wait is frustrating! She seems fine otherwise. She was born exposed to cocaine but really didn't have any withdrawals beside some minor trembling. We are a little worried about FAS because she has a brother with it who is about 10. The baby doesn't show any signs of it so far but I know that it doesn't always show up at birth, so we are taking a bit of a chance with her but we are in love with her already anyhow. :) Thanks again, Kathy

no one tells you that often times african american children have mongolin spots on their buttocks or tail bones. i would never had known, except several years ago my friend and her daughter who is bi-raicial (ca/aa) were at my apart, and her daughter slipped down about 3 stairs. she was fine but about an hour later, i was changing her diaper and i yelled to her mom, "oh, my gosh, sally has a huge bruise on her back from falling down the steps." her mom had a good laugh and explained what it was. when i got my foster son, i would have surely thought his was a bruise from his birth parents. i am glad i knew about them or i would have looked silly calling his sw that night telling her about his "bruise"