The first one appeared when Anna was just a few days old. I thought
it was a diaper rash at first. As a first-time mom, I didn't
know one red spot from another.
After another day or two, several more flat red spots appeared
in and around Anna's diaper area. I had never heard the word
before the doctor told me they were
hemangiomas
, and the word flew right over my head. I caught the
"oma" ending - which sounded to me like cancer, like
melanoma - which immediately had me worried.
Now, nearly 3 years later, I know that I didn't need to
be alarmed.
Hemangiomas
are improper formations of blood vessels, and wouldn't pose any
threat to Anna's health. The neonatologist told us then that we
could expect them to grow larger and redder, but they would most
likely disappear by the time Anna went to kindergarten.
After discussing Anna's hemangiomas with friends and family,
we found out that we were hardly alone - many others had had them
as kids or knew someone who did. Apparently they are pretty common,
occurring in approximately 1 out of every 100 births, and
there's a higher risk among babies like Anna, who are
Caucasian, female, and born prematurely.
In the Hospital
Anna's birth was a big surprise for us. She arrived 7 weeks
before her due date. Her health was good from the start, but she
spent 2 weeks maturing in the hospital NICU before going home.
There was some concern that Anna's diapers would rub against
the hemangiomas, breaking the skin and leading to bleeding or
infection. But because none were near any vital organs, there was a
pretty low risk for any more serious complications. So the doctors
weren't recommending plastic surgery or any other treatment. We
were relieved that no drastic measures were needed - the thought of
any sort of surgery on my newborn was truly frightening.
By the time Anna was released from the
NICU
, she had nine confirmed hemangiomas. The tiniest one was the size
of a pinprick on her back; the largest one just about encompassed
the top of her entire right big toe. They looked like huge blood
blisters, and it was hard to imagine that they weren't causing
Anna any pain. But she never winced when they were touched and or
showed any signs of distress. The doctors assured us that they
would not be painful as long as the skin stayed intact.
We had been referred to a pediatric dermatologist to follow Anna
for any potential complications. He explained that hemangiomas
usually grow rapidly for about 12 months, grow with the child for
another year, and then recede over the next 5 to 10 years. In
addition, my mother-in-law went to the library and did some
research that helped us get a better understanding of what to
expect.
The dermatologist ordered an ultrasound of Anna's head and
abdomen to make sure there were no internal hemangiomas. While I
found this test painless and fun when I was pregnant, for
4-month-old Anna it was pure torture. It seemed there was nothing I
could do to comfort her during the 20-minute procedure. She was
scared of the dark room, the slimy gel, and the strangers touching
her. However, the test produced good news: no internal
hemangiomas.
The dermatologist also did more blood tests to rule out thyroid
problems. Again, this is a pretty simple procedure, but it was pure
torture for Anna. Her veins are difficult to locate, so the nurse
had to do a heel stick to draw the blood, which takes longer and is
a bit more painful. Thankfully, this round of tests also showed
nothing unusual.
Positive Signs
By the time Anna was 6 months old, her hemangiomas started to
get better rather than worse, a very good sign for a baby so young!
Because no serious complications had developed, our main concern
was that the skin over the hemangiomas would break, leading to
bleeding or infection. We were advised to use Aquaphor (a
moisturizing cream) to prevent that.
Like many parents, I thought Anna was the most beautiful child I
had ever seen and I believed that's what other people would see
too, not her hemangiomas. That said, I only wanted admiration for
my daughter and not undue pity. So I made sure she had socks on,
even in the summer, just to provide a little privacy. I knew I
couldn't do anything for the hemangioma above her ear - which
looked like a big red pencil eraser - that wouldn't make it
look like we were hiding something, so I did nothing. Beyond trying
to photograph her "good side," we just went with it.
Thankfully, no one stared impolitely or was rude to us, but if I
was speaking to someone and I thought they were curious, I would
break the ice and explain what hemangiomas are, because I knew that
just a few months before I too had known nothing about them.
A Fading Issue
Anna is now a curious and precocious 21/2-year-old and, very
happily, her hemangiomas have not caused any problems. The biggest
hemangioma - the one on her big toe - went away around her first
birthday. The skin texture is slightly different than the rest of
her skin, but only her mother or a trained eye would ever know it
was there. A few months later, the one above her ear began to
flatten and fade.
Now just six of the hemangiomas remain, and their original red
appearance has started to fade.
So we feel pretty lucky. Anna didn't have to go through any
surgery or treatment, and none were internal or near her eyes,
nose, or mouth, or anything else that might interfere with her
normal functioning. None of the remaining growths are visible when
she's dressed, so we don't need to worry about teasing Anna
might face as she gets older.
So now she's free to follow toddler pursuits, like running,
jumping, and taking on the playground swings!
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: October 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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