My pregnancy had been perfect really, a bit of spotting at about 5 weeks pregnant, but a scan proved my little one was fine and we saw a little blob pulsing, which was her heartbeat. I only had about 3 weeks of morning sickness, which came just before went to sleep at night, but I had no problems at all.
Then the 8th March 2010 came along, 17 days before my due date I started getting pains every 15 minutes at 6pm. 9pm came and after Paracetamol and a warm bath my pains were still every 5 minutes, so off up to the hospital we went. All the phone calls were made to let people know she was coming.
My waters were broken for me at around 3am and then at 6am on the 9th March I was told to start pushing. Everything was going fine from what I thought, but when her head crowned my mum was told to press the emergency button, I was off my head on gas and air and didn’t have a clue what was going on, but next thing I knew there were about 5 midwives all rushing round me and my baby.
My baby was born with Aplaisa Cutis Congenita
Apparently when her head was out, there were two cuts on her head which were bleeding. My baby was born with Aplaisa Cutis Congenita.
I was passed my new baby and her daddy cut the cord, then everyone was fussing around whilst I was having my stitches.
The midwives were asking my mum loads of questions – did I have her waters broken? Did they use forceps?
I’m guessing they thought the miwife had caught Ambers head whilst breaking my waters. But a visit from the paediatrician told us that it was Aplasia Cutis Congentia – or Cutis Aplasia as it was more commonly known and was quite common.
It basically means that when she was growing in the womb, the skin on her head didn’t form completely and therefore was bleeding and would eventually scar.
The following day Amber and I were allowed to go home, our midwife asked us loads of questions about Ambers head as she hadn’t heard anything about it and there were nothing about it in my maternity notes, even the health visitor hadn’t heard about it and they looked a bit shocked when I told them it was apparently quite common.
I Googled Cutis Aplasia and found some awful pictures of babies with no skin on their arms and stomachs, so Amber had gotten away with it quite lightly.
We went back to the hospital at around 12 weeks for a check-up with another paediatrician, who actually told us that it may have been from my waters being broken, but from the shape of the scars it is more than likely Cutis Aplasia.
It didn’t really bother me at first, but then we started taking her out without bonnets on as it got warmer and she doesn’t like wearing sun hats and would rather play peekaboo with them. The stares and snide comments really upset me.
Amber is only 14 months old so she doesn’t know what’s going on. I know when her hair grows it will be covered and she probably won’t know about it. But when I take her shopping you can see people staring at her head, I would prefer them to just ask me what’s wrong with her head rather than make rude comments and stare at her.
I remember at about 3 months old we took her to the walk in centre with oral thrush and there was a little boy with his mum who was staring at Ambers head and said rather loudly “Eurgh mum look at that baby’s head!”
His mum looked at Amber and just said, “Oh yeah, now just sit down and be quiet.”
This really offended me, my little girl is perfect, people have scars everywhere just because my daughters is on her head and is quite visible doesn’t mean people can be so ignorant and make comments about it.
I know it’s wrong, but I can’t wait until her hair is longer so I can cover it up, to stop all the nasty comments and stares.
I try to be positive about it am when I see people look at her I explain what is wrong with her head before they have chance to even ask. I just hope that she can be positive about it when she is older too.
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About The Real Supermum
I’m sorry people can’t be more understanding hun, I’m sure your daughter is beautiful, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
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aww hunni i hate it when people judge they should come right out and ask the parent that’s why if i see a child that has a scar or birth mark cleft lip and palette or any other noticeable things like that i smile and treat the baby the same way as any other and sometimes i ask but other times it seems the parent is embarrased and rushes away your daughter is perfect in every way hunni xxxx
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Thanks Sammi.
She really is, thats what annoys me so much about it, people dont realise how beautiful she is, always asks about the scars first :/
If you click on the picture you can see the scabbed bits from when she was a few days old.
xx
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its awful how people chat rubbish, my youngest has an extremely noticeble purpley black birthmark on her arm, since she was newborn people would ask if it was a burn- well no u idiots how the hell would my newborn get a burn like that. fools!
people can be so cruel…… parents ought to think how they would feel if someone said that about their child, terrible. I am glad it is nothing serious and she will be fine and that it will be covered when she is older by her hair. I would have repremanded my child for that and explained that it is rude to make comments like that and why it is rude etc and apologised for the childs’ comments. How every child is, is unique to them and makes them what they are….. and us proud! x
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i have a nephew who suffers with Eczema Herpeticum. it covers his face and looks awful. people stare at him as if he is some sort of circus freak. poor kid is only 3. just ignore people like that hun. x
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awwwwww of course your baby girl is perfect, just ignore everyone who choose to judge, they’re the ones looking stupid, we are all born uniquely and have our story and that makes us special
x
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awww. your girl is perfect.. everyone has scars and birthmarks. anyone that judges you or your daughter for it is not worth the time of day, dont let looks or comments from shallow people get to you.. xxx
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To be fair, that wouman may not have known what to say to her son at such short notice and probs felt more embarassed that he said it.
But I am sure your daughter is beautiful and only the people that matter will see past it x
aww ignore the stares and comments, ur daughter is beautiful. everyone is unique in their own way. big hugs babe xx
Your daughter is beautiful!! Pees me off when people stare and comment when they don’t know a thing!! Hold your head up high! xx
really hun these people need to grow the hell up. if it was me i would stare back at them like there was something wrong with them to show them how it feels. your daughter is beautiful no matter what xx
That what kind of world we live in, it would make things a lot easier if people wasnt so bloody rude, your little girl is perfect ignore the ones that make rude comments xx
People are sooo horrible!! shell be fine when shes older chick because she has an amazing mum!
People can be rude but don’t take the boys comments or his mums response to heart – All children point things out and his mother probable just wished the ground would swallow her up..
Some people just need educating, but the spiteful comments just ignore.. they are just from ignorant people who know nothing.. x
Aw honey, its horrible when people cant see past something, your baby is no doubt beautiful and like youd said her hair will grow and she will none the wiser. Hope everything is ok xxx
Urgh ignore them but I bet she’s a right little stunner
it’s none of their business what’s wrong with her and it should have been in your maternity notes! God knows what could have happened x
ur daughter will always be beautiful in her own little way. u get sum nasty people out there hunni xxx hugs xx
Awww bless your daughter will always be gawgus no matter what
aslo ppl can be very rude az a mum of triplets I know very well about the looks the stares rude comments all comes with it I just tend to smile an walk on by. It didn’t matter weva you hav disabilities scars different looks hair colour or a mum of multiples you will always get the ignorance from ppl also! It can take alot to walk away with a smile. But works for us xxx
aww people can be so cruel and hurtful…your daughter is beautiful ignore what others think xx
I think your daughter will grow up confident and happy because she has a mum thats taught her to be.
I dont know much about this condition so I was wondering does that mean she could get more cuts as she grows or does it only happen in the womb ?
Looks and comments are born of ignorance and fear so pay no mind to them.
Awwww I bet she’s gorgeous !! People make me sick the way they can be horrid to an innocent baby xxx
arrggg.. if people aint got nothing nice to say wish they wouldnt say it at all!! annoys me loads!! … too hell with them, i bet ur lil lady is gawjuss!!
Give it them back, she is just as wonderful as everyone else xxxx