[Aveasmom]

This is something that I am slightly worried about.

My baby's pictures so far are really quite light. Her birthmom's DNA picture came and she is really quite dark. SHe is beautiful, so is my baby!!
After watching Dateline I am "slightly" worried about corruption.
I "think " I have a good agency. They email me back within a few hours ALWAYS, even minutes. Everything is going fine I think.
But She is so light and her birthmom is so dark. I realize her Birth father could be light, the picture of the birthmom could be dark, the picture of baby could be light. But I want to make sure this happens. I just do not want to have to give my baby back in a year or whatever Because she was stolen or something. I am probably being stupid, the DNA was 99.99999.

I hope this doesn't make anyone mad, but it just won't leave my mind.

[Waiting4Celeste]

Our daughter was also very light as an infant and has since become darker after being in the sun the past two summers.
In Guatemala, most of our babies are covered completely when outside and are not usually exposed to the sun.
In her DNA picture, her birthmother looked a lot darker than Celeste did. But I am positive, without a doubt, sure that she is her birthmother. Celeste really looks like her.
Also - with our son, he has gotten darker each summer and has kept his color - so he is a lot darker as he has gotten older.
I wouldn't worry about it!
Congrats on the positive DNA test!!
I hope the rest of the process goes quickly for you!

[CurlysGirly]

I wouldn't really worry too much but it could be a couple of things. It could be that her birthmother has spent more time outside causing her skin to darken (I doubt they use or can afford sunscreen). It could be that the baby doesn't get out into the sun much, keeping her lighter. Also, children of color tend to start out lighter and then darken with age.

Our DDs First Mom looked darker than DD in the DNA picture. Our DD was lighter when we picked her up. Her foster mom mentioned rarely taking her out of the house except for routine doctor appts. Once she came home in July and spent the summer splashing away in the pool, her color became much more vibrant. I also felt that her color changed once I got her on American formula and nutrition.

I hope that helps a little and gives you some things to ease your mind

[DPline]

I can tell you that my son becomes amazingly dark during the summer when he is out in the sun (even with sunscreen) so I really agree with the others that the difference of his birthmother being outside and him inside or kept covered could be a huge part of it.

[becky]

The DNA matched...that photo is done at the DNA testing, I don't think you have a thing to worry about!

Almost all Guatemalan babies are light skinned. The majority of the children get darker as they get older and are exposed to the sun.

[A_ROSE024]

In all the pictures we got of our son while waiting for him, he looked really light, not much darker than myself or husband. Anyway, when we saw him for the first time on our pick up trip, I was surprised to see how dark he was, and still is. His complexion is a beautiful dark brown, he by far was the darkest baby we saw while in our hotel.

[kacmom1]

My son, too, looked much lighter in the pictures that I received and the birthmom's picture was darker. I don't think you should spend too much time worrying about this. You should see how dark my son gets in the summer! Once he's in the warm sun, he turns into my little brown bear!!!!

[Shannavi]

Our son is very light compared to his birth mom as well. I think pictures make skin look lighter anyway.

[dspakowsky]

Just think... 20, 30, or 40 years in the HOT sun with NO SUNSCREEN... the birth mother is going to be very dark.

Many AA babies are very light when born too!

[Mariais5]

I agree with everyone else.. Bryce was VERY light compared to her birthmom in the DNA picture.. She has gotten darker with age, but is still not nearly as dark as her birthmom..

My AA friend just had a baby, and the baby is much lighter than my friend and everyone in her family.. It seems to be the norm with people of color... How I wish I would have darkened with age.. Why did I have to stay pasty?! ;-)

[akasohappy]

You can see from my avatar how light Kate was.
Her birthmother was sooo dark compared to Kate in the DNA photos.
Kate did look darker in person, and her skin is definitely darker now.
The DNA match is what is important. Try not to worry. Heck, there is two DNA tests so I am sure everything will be fine.
Kate looks so much like her birthmom now, the same beautiful good looks.

[bbull]

Same here. Daughter was lighter than bmom for sure and has gotten darker over time - even exposure to inside lighting made her darker (I think) b/c she's no longer bundled up all the time. And, ds is so much lighter than his sister. He looks like a white baby! But - he is definitely, definitely Rosie's bio brother. I'm sure he'll get darker, too. And - the bmom in the photos is definitely their bmom!

[dovelu]

Just wanted to chime in to say that it was the same case here. Lucy was & is very light-skinned, almost white. Her birth mom is quite dark-skinned (again, both very beautiful). Her birth mom is also short & Lucy is very tall. So maybe her birth-dad was a taller white man? Who knows?

Veronica, dd#2 from Guatemala, appeared lighter-skinned in her pics but she is a actually a beautiful brown color. Her birth mom was very light-skinned. In fact, on her i.d. card, she has "white" checked off (b.m.).

But both girls definately look like their birth moms-- their lips, eyes, cheekbones, hair (as they grow older), etc.

As you can tell, I think about their birth moms & pray for them very often.

Many blessings,
Amy

[emilysmama]

I just my DNA back with picture of birthmom and she is darker to, the test came back positive. What I felt so bad about was the sadness in the birthmoms eyes. She is a very pretty lady and I thank God for her kindness. Martha

[dhoneybunny]

Originally Posted by Mariais5

How I wish I would have darkened with age.. Why did I have to stay pasty?! ;-)

Amen!
Our DS is also lighter than birthmom (who works in the Coffee fields). My mom made the comment that the pictures of him with DH he looks light (Italian DH), but pictures of him with me he looks dark (English/German/Dutch).

That's ok. Bio DD was the same way.