A mum has been slammed for tattooing one of her twin boys so she could tell them apart when injecting them.
The 31-year-old unnamed mum explained that after having fertility, she was thrilled to give birth to Sam and Jack, who are identical to the point where even her and her husband get them mixed up.
But one of the baby boys, Jack, was born with a condition that means he needs to have an injection once a week.
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She shared her story on Reddit, where it soon became clear why she went to such measures.
The mum explained that although she trusted her mother-in-law, she once gave the injection to the wrong baby.
She said: "She immediately noticed her mistake called 911 and they were transferred to hospital. By the time I got there Adam had been given the reversal agent and they were both happily sipping on juice loving the attention.
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We went home the same night told to push fluids. He was never in danger. Its a very slow acting medication that, at worst, would have given him diarrhoea in a few days."
But, she explained, her mother-in-law was 'beside herself', meaning she ended up sending them to daycare instead, with a doctor and the childcare staff recommending a tattoo.
The woman continued: "Explained [to my mother-in-law] they tattoo a freckle, no bigger than the end of a pencil eraser, on an area of skin that's easily seen while the child is under mild sedation similar to dental offices.
"Because of the area it usually fades in two to three years but by then they should have developed more personal features and may not need it redone. So after discussion with my husband we did it."
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The baby had a 2mm brown freckle on his earlobe, but the mother-in-law was not happy.
She added: "Mother-in-law lost her s*** the second I mentioned a medical tattoo. I tried to explain, but she just freaked out, so I put both kids on the floor and told her to pick up Jack and find the tattoo.
"She picked up Adam so I handed her Jack and after 20 minutes still couldn't find it. Stripped him to his skivvies.
"I finally pointed it out and she went 'that's just a freckle'.
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"I just said 'my point exactly. Adam doesn't have a freckle there... So that's how daycare can tell them apart."
She added: "She's still p***ed and ranting. Once I explain to others, and they fail to find it they understand, but they still think I went too far in tattooing my child and altering their body.
"I believe I took the necessary precautions recommended by the doctor and the tattoo will fade with sun exposure and as he grows. By the time he's five it probably won't even be visible or it'll just look like a faded freckle."
She added: "Am I the a***ole."
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Reddit users however, did not think she was the a***ole.
One said: "It's literally a fake freckle. It's not like you gave him a full sleeve of pin-up girls and muscle cars."
Another said: "I'd rather tattoo my kids with Barney the dinosaur on their whole body than risk messing up medication."
That's that sorted then.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay