BASINGSTOKE’S MP has said she was “deeply upset” by the experience of a mum who felt under suspicion of abusing her baby at birth.

Maria Miller has now called for action after hearing from Faye Wheeler, who featured in the Gazette to raise awareness of Mongolian blue spots.

As previously reported, the 35-year-old from Basingstoke, said she felt under suspicion of abusing her mixed race son Micah Wright, now seven, when he was born with a Mongolian blue spot covering his back.

They are extremely common among Asian children as well as children with dark skin, including people of Indian and African descent, but usually disappear by the time a child reaches puberty.

However, doctors initially failed to recognise that the spot on Micah was a Mongolian blue spot, leaving Faye feeling under suspicion while they investigated.

The mother-of-two has recently discovered that many other women whose children have these birthmarks feel the same way, with some even being accused of abusing their baby.

She wrote to Mrs Miller asking for support to raise awareness, in the hope of making it mandatory for safeguarding training for those who work with babies and children to include Mongolian blue spots.

The town’s MP said she has written to Matt Hancock about the matter.

She added: “Faye and her family’s experience was deeply upsetting. I have written to the health secretary to ask what more can be done to improve training to improve recognition of Mongolian blue spots, particularly amongst midwifery staff, baby care units and other paediatric staff who regularly treat babies and young children in the NHS.”

Mrs Miller has launched a local inquiry into the lived experiences of members of the Basingstoke community who are from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

After Faye’s story was published, others also shared their experience of being questioned over Mongolian blue spots.

Mary Anne Cruz said: “Yes I am also one of those who get questioned about it but as a nurse I confidently answered that it’s a Mongolian spots.”

Sarah Thomas posted: “My daughter has this and I went through hell when she was a baby. One experience I can never forget. The looks I got in the hospital, I was never allowed on my own with my daughter as they thought I was abusing her. Went through weeks of this at the hospital and months from social. My daughter isn’t mixed race.”

Jackie Wilson added: “I was told my baby couldn’t have a blue spot because Caucasians don’t have them. My girl is mixed race but very, very pale. Made me feel like she thought it was a bruise and another midwife came and made a face as if to say ‘ignore her’ and said it was clear she was mixed. I always remember that.”

Charlotte Aman said: “All three mine have it they are mixed race though, but they do look like bruises. I think health professionals should have more training into what one is… not all health professionals know exactly what they are and that they can be mistaken for a bruise. Nightmare for us parents.”