From: ebi1978

Date: 6/19/2007 at 4:52 PM

I had one on the side of my stomach when I was born. It faded with time. Now it just looks like a slight rash, but you really have to look to see it. My mom used to tell me I was kissed by angels before being born as it was shapped like lips!

From: *AmyMarie*

Date: 6/19/2007 at 5:09 PM

My sister developed 5 of them as a baby. They all faded over time. 3 are completely gone, the other 2 look like typical brown birth marks (skin darker brown than the rest of her skin). Don't get too worried yet. I know that things have changed since we were little, too, so there is a lot docs can do for them. Good Luck to you and your little one.

From: swirliepop

Date: 6/19/2007 at 5:10 PM

DS has one that covers most of his right foot. Pedi mentioned that they can grow but usually stop at 1 year of age, and that if we want we can laser it off, etc. I'm not too worried about it, but it is on his foot - a little less noticeable. Everyone asks "what happened" - I'm surprised it's not evident it's a birthmark. ;-)

MC 04/14/08 at 6w
MC 01/21/09 at 6w3d

From: Shoesforme

Date: 6/19/2007 at 5:33 PM

Here's what I know -

DD has two on her back (actually on both shoulder blades - one bigger than the other - and they look like angel wings or tattoos - guess it depends on the personality she develops:) haha!). They will get bigger with time (both the size and stick out a bit from the skin), and usually (9 times out of 10) harmless, and just a cluster of blood cells. They are very common.

Pedis only usually worry about them if they are in a place where they can bleed (example doc gave me was if there's one on the bottom - could get irritated and bleed w/ diaper rash). Because it's a cluster of blood cells if the mark is located in a place that will regularly bleed, they might argue that medically it needs to be taken off as a preventative measure.

They do shrink and fade with age - pedi told me that they will get bigger for the first year, slant off a bit, and then start growing again when dc is around 3, finally starting to fade and get smaller around 5 or 6 years of age (all depending on child, I guess, but this is average). And usually they bother parents more than children. (unless they cover an eye, or nostril, or something like that would both the child's daily activities). They can also be removed for cosmetic reasons if necessary (guess that was the discussion about lasers and removal, etc.).

I wasn't surprised when we found ours - my cousin had a big one right under her nose. It bubbled out up until the age of three and then just disappeared rather quickly (but still over a period of time). Now it just looks like a small freckle (and it was def not small before).

I saw the pics (daughter is gorgeous BTW!) and it doesn't look bad to me at all - it will most likely get bigger, but in my opinion (not that it was asked) I would just wait it out until she's older. I wouldn't want to make my infant go through all of that when it's probably not bothering her.

Oh, and my friend's baby has one right on the top of her head - hair will grow over it though eventually, but eveyone asks about her "boo-boo", and my friend get so sick of explaining it.

From: ab80

Date: 6/19/2007 at 6:07 PM

I had an hemangioma appear shortly after birth under my chin. As a child it became huge and was very noticable. My parents considered having it surgically removed, however at that time and with the location it was much riskier, so they decided to wait and let me decide. With time it shrunk...I did have some very mild treatments, nothing invasive and I can't even remember what they were. As an adult it's barely noticable...I've known people for years before they have noticed. It kind of looks a little "loose" like "old people skin". I'd try not to worry and just hang in there and see what happens.

From: jackienray

Date: 6/19/2007 at 6:31 PM

My brother has one on his left hand. It actually never faded. But what is really cool about it is that it's shaped like a heart. So it looks like he has a heart tattoo on his hand!

From: KISSBride

Date: 6/19/2007 at 6:49 PM

My DS who is 4mos has one also-right under his left eye. My doctor also has been keeping a eye on it and it has grown some these past 4 mos. I was a little worried at first but the more info I got- I am not so much. I rather wait for it to fade than to do a procedure but will do it if it starts to interfere with his site- but it looks like as her grows it is moving somewhat away from his eye. I call it " a mark of distinction" and also get alot of comments regarding it- some people recognize it as a "Strawberry" but others I have to explain. It also didn't appear on DS until he was around 3wks. He also had one on his lower back.

From: KISSBride

Date: 6/19/2007 at 6:50 PM

ugh- I meant sight :)

From: PucciGucciFan

Date: 6/19/2007 at 7:05 PM

Jack has two of them...one decent sized at the nape of his neck (I thought this was a heat rash or something else when I first found it!) and the other is on his left wrist...it's shaped like a little open umbrella. The ped. said nothing to worry about. I know his are not in as obvious a location, but these are completely normal things...and we all have healthy babies :)

From: Missa1128

Date: 6/19/2007 at 7:54 PM

DD was born with a birthmark on her chin. It actually looks like a scar (when she was first born I thought the doc had cut her when she cut the cord from around her neck - the cord was really tight so it was a possibility - but not what happened) Then we thought perhaps she scratched herself in utero... turns out that it is a birthmark. Everyone asked what happened, but it is hardly noticable now. THe hospital pedi said she'd need it removed before puberty as it can cause cancer. DDs pedi said to watch it over time and it might fade on its own. Since its on her face we'd need a plastic surgeon to remove it, pedi wouldnt do it. However she said not til she's older than 3 b/c you dont want to put an infant under general anestesia unneccessarily (so if she needs surgery for some other reason, we can do it all at once, otherwise we wait and see)

From: ktspj

Date: 6/20/2007 at 6:25 AM

Thank everyone for the replys! I feel better knowing that they do fade. The only reason I have to see a specialist is beacause of its location. My Pedi says it is not very common for them to be on the lip and if it does grow it can be a problem with feeding. Also, the bottle could irritate it and cause bleeding, ulceration and infection. Also, because the lip is so vascular it my never fade or take way longer than other ones would. I will keep you posted!!