Mongolian Spots 101

Mongolian Spots? Is this a term you are completely not familiar with? I'm learning that many people (esp. those in the medical, social work, and daycare/nursery profession) have no clue what Mongolian Spots are.

What is a Mongolian Spot? Mongolian spots are flat bluish to bluish gray skin markings that commonly appear at birth (or shortly thereafter). They appear commonly at the base of the spine, on the buttocks and back and also can appear on the shoulders. Mongolian spots are benign and are not associated with any conditions or illnesses. Mongolian blue spots are common among darker skinned races, such as Asian, East Indian, and African.

So why am I bringing this to your attention you might be asking? Because Mongolian spots can be easily mistaken for bruises, particularly by well-meaning white people who have no experience with them, they have triggered accusations of child abuse against some adoptive parents. For this reason, it is important to be sure that both your child's pediatrician and the caseworker who completes your post-adoption work record information on the presence of Mongolian spots into their records. You can assist in the documentation of this information by taking snapshots of the spots and providing prints to be included in your child's files. Since you cannot take for granted that everyone will know what Mongolian spots are, it is good advice to have their presence recorded from the start. Reference by link

When Micah was born, he had a Mongolian spot on his lower back/buttocks area and our Pediatrician told us it was a birthmark. So we were not alarmed by this one bit. Then when Micah was about a month old we put him in our church nursery. When Soowan came to pick him up he was questioned by one of the workers. He explained that it was a birthmark, but he knew the explanation he provided to her was not sufficient to put this woman at ease. So he returned with Micah upset (rightfully so) and we began talking about the matter. At the time our friend Angela (who is Chinese) returned to the church nursery to talk with the worker and the nursery director that our son's blue spot was a birthmark, and that it is not to be suspected as anything differently. So we thought our worries were over, but each time there was a new worker in the nursery, the same questions would be asked. So inevitably we had his birthmark documented, and we made sure to explain what exactly was on his butt if we noticed a new worker in the nursery.

Now we are running into the same situation with Little Miss Amanda. She has Mongolian spots all over her buttocks, back, shoulders and upper arms. I have to admit the first time I changed her I was a bit shocked. We knew by her paperwork she had them, but was not prepared for what we saw. We were changing her at the airport, and all I could think of was to cover her up immediately because we KNEW we would be questioned by someone quickly if we kept her undressed.

We have taken her to the Pediatrician and had all her marks photographed and documented. He gave us a card to keep with us at all times with his pager # so he could be contacted immediately in case we were ever questioned, or in a situation that we are accused of child abuse. He has had families where the authorities take the baby first, then call the doctor after the parents have been booked for child abuse. Shocking? Yes it is!

We asked the doctor, "Wouldn't police authorities, medical professionals, social workers know what a common birthmark would look like?" He replied, "You would think so? Unless they have never been in contact with a infant/child with a Mongolian spot." My goodness, do we really live in that tight of a bubble???!!! He has had patients who were removed from their parents due to false accusations of abuse, when all the child had was a birthmark. This scares the heck out of me, due to Amanda's Mongolian marks and fear that someone who is not familiar with them will make the same accusations against us.

My fears have become even more inflamed after talking with the ladies at the nail salon I go to. I went this week to have a pedicure done and brought Amanda along because the workers there would of been mad if I had not. The family who owns the nail salon are Vietnamese and they noticed Amanda's spots almost immediately. I talked with them about it, and I was in tears when I left because my heart ached for them for what they have had to endure because of their own children's birthmarks. One says her son has them on his arms and wrists, so she keeps him in long sleeved shirts all year long. OK, that's insane because we live in TEXAS for heaven's sake!!! All of them had stories of nurses at urgent care center, freaking out about their child's birthmarks. Going so far as to removing the child from the room, and then all "you know what breaks loose" at the urgent care center, until someone with brains educates the staff on what the marks are. INCREDIBLE!!! You would think they would of learned this in school!

Amanda has been given so many adorable outfits that are sleeveless and they look so cute on her. She will wear them, but only at home or if we are going over to a friend's house. We have decided not to dress her in them when we are out in public to avoid any conflict. You may still notice her marks with her short-sleeved tops, but we are OK with that, they show just a little bit. There is no way we will keep her in long-sleeved shirts through out the summer months though.

Well I hope you all learned something today, and like the old saying goes, "Never judge a book by it's cover." And remember, "Jumping to conclusions will only lead to a tragic landing."

Here are more links that show pictures of what Mongolian spots looks like, so you can better educate yourselves and to see how they do resemble bruises (but they are not bruises).

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