What is this growth on her lip? (photo)

[Yodergoat]

I hope that someone here can tell me what this little growth on my daughter's lip might be. She is almost 14 months old, and while trying to get some food from between her teeth today, I saw this thing that can only be described as a "fleshy protuberance." It doesn't seem to be bothering her, but it worries me!

Here is a PHOTO LINK

Of course, I noticed it on the weekend, so her ped's office is closed. I will call about it Monday, but in the meantime... any ideas? Does it have some connection to nursing? Or did she perhaps bite the inside of her lip? Has anyone experienced something like this? I'm not the worrying, o'erly concerned type, but still, it is mysterious.

Please help!

Many thanks,
-Shawna

[kaPOW!]

I bet you it'll be gone by the time the pediatrician opens on Monday. If not, then pretty soon after. I think it's called a mucocele. I had one much much much much much much much worse than that, and it had to be removed. But the kind that she has there should reabsorb or pop on its own. Basically, it's a busted saliva gland, and you're looking at saliva that's trapped under the skin. She could have just barely tapped her lip on those pearly teethies and busted one of the glands.

Hope that at least helps you get through the weekend. It's always unsettling to see unexpected things like that.

[Yodergoat]

Phew! Thanks, Sara!



I did a search on mucoceles, and found photos that look almost exactly like Gail's lip! What a relief to know it isn't anything too serious. I'm sure that with all of the running and clamboring about (and the subsequent falling!) that Gail has been doing, she bumped her mouth. It seems like she falls a hundred times per day in her adventures, and how she doesn't bloody her little nose or bust her lip, I have no idea!

I wonder, should I still hasten to the doctor on Monday, even if it hasn't grown? I'll feel silly if we go there only to be told to go back home and wait for it to subside. I suppose I'll call them Monday and describe it, to see if they want to see her or if they think I should wait and see if it gets better or worse. The thought of it growing to the point that it requires surgical removal is a little disconcerting.

I've never had to deal with Gail being sick or injured... so I guess I'm more nervous about it than I would like to admit.

Thanks again for the information, and the hugs!