New baby with port wine stain

My 8 month old daughter just had her first laser treatment today for a PWS on her left cheek/jaw. It looks slightly swollen and VERY dark purple, but she doesnt seem to be bothered by it at all. I would not worry too much and recommend that you get treatment started before 1 year of age.

My second daughter was born on October 2003 in Sydney Australia as she to has a port wine stain on her right fingers, arm, shoulder and chest. The doctors at the hospital and any GP I have been to have told us that it was an hemangioma and that it will fade as she gets older. Luckily due to the size of the birthmark we were refered to a plastic surgeon in Jan 04 who was the first person to mention portwine stain. I then looked on the Internet for information as was overwelmed but all of the other side effects that could be associated with a portwine stain. He refered us to a hemangioma specialist in March 2004 there was a small mark on the base on my babys spine which apparently can be associated to spinal condition called Dawes sydrome and due to the fact that the birth mark was under her arm she was then checked for any under lying problems. Everything came back clear which
was a relief due to the fact that I had read before hand about what could go wrong. It made that birthmark then become a lot less of a problem. I was just so happy that she was healthy. We have been referred to a laser specialist in august. I have been informed that there appears to be more success the earlier that you treat the port wine stain. I have also heard that port wine stains do not respond as well to laser treatment if they are on the arm or body. Has anyone had treatment to there arm with success I would love to hear. The General Practictioners are still tellling me that the birthmark will fade. I feel like telling them to get better informed. I was very lucky to be referred so early to a specialist at least it has given me piece of mind. Good luck with your son I will be thinking of you.

My son was born in Sept.2002 and his pediatrician also told me not to worry about it. She said that he would not be able to have any surgery until he was a teenager. As I read more about this type of birthmark I found that this was not true. So I took my son to a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville and he had his first surgery when he was 7 months old. So far he has had 5 and he is doing great! Hope this helps.
Valerie

[nickbar]

is this laser you are talking about?

Thank you for sharing your story. Hopefully more parents will see that something can be done...and will seek the right answers.

Corinne

hey contact me at my Email were are in the same boat i cant really go in to it now but we can talk. Im in Iraq right now but will email you back as soon as you repliy
i have the same ? you have jeff

Originally Posted by isaaclee

Hi,
Our son, Isaac, was recently borned with significant amount of Port Wine Stain covering his head, eye-lip, back, chest and hands. Our doctor told us of Sturge-Weber and Klippel Trenauany that got us really concerned. What is the possibility of contracting SWS and KT if Port Wine Stain is present? Presence of Port Wine Stain will not necessarily translates to these complications right?
Thank you.
Concerned Parents,
Jake & Valeria