After the anticipation and excitement during nine months of pregnancy, and the hard labor that capped it off, it’s perfectly understandable if you can’t seemingly take your eyes off your baby immediately following birth. After all, the birth of a child undoubtedly brings in a different dimension in a new mother’s life. It’s just natural if you want to take in just about everything in your new bundle of joy – from the cure patch of hair, to the pair of downy eyes, all the way to the little fingers and toes. Now, another thing you may notice post-birth is the appearance of a birthmark in your newborn darling. While it is quite a common thing to notice after child birth, it may also be a cause for a bit of worry and anxiety on your part. Here are a few facts about post-birth marks in a baby:
First, a birthmark is usually developed even before the birth of a child. It’s actually a visible little blemish on the skin, and more than one in 10 babies have what is generally referred to as a vascular birthmark. Even with advances in medical technology, the specific cause of birthmarks remains to be unknown. Nevertheless, what’s certain is that vascular birthmarks aren’t inherited, and that many people have them. In fact, they tend to appear within the first month after child birth, and can be spotted practically anywhere.
Second, most birthmarks are considered harmless, so in general cases you should have nothing to fret about. Post-birth marks also come in different colors, such as tan, pink, brown, black, even white, pink and red. There are some birthmarks that gradually diminish appearance and eventually disappear over time. However, there are also others that get covered with hair and remain. These days, it’s not unheard of to have a birthmark removed through laser or cosmetic surgery.
Third, you might find it interesting to note that twice as many girls have post-birth marks as opposed to boys. Also, people born with fair skin have much greater chances of getting vascular birthmarks than, say, Africans or Asians. It may also help to remember that the most common type of vascular birthmark is called a strawberry birthmark. It can easily be identified because – as the name implies – it’s a small red elevation on the skin. If you little darling has this, it would have disappeared by the time he reaches 10.
In a nutshell, you generally have nothing to be overly concerned about as far as birthmarks are concerned after giving birth. But to put your mind at ease, you can consult with a pediatrician for medical advice.
