Cleft Lip and palate

Hi,

I am 35 weeks pregnant and was just wondering if there are any other mums out there with a newborn that has a cleft lip/palate. I had a cleft lip as a baby so I kind of had a feeling my bub would too, however, as time draws closer to the birth I'm starting to freak out and worried how people will react.

I'd love any advice! I am planning to call Cleftpals this week.

smile Alysha

Hi,

I am 35 weeks pregnant and was just wondering if there are any other mums out there with a newborn that has a cleft lip/palate. I had a cleft lip as a baby so I kind of had a feeling my bub would too, however, as time draws closer to the birth I'm starting to freak out and worried how people will react.

I'd love any advice! I am planning to call Cleftpals this week.

smile Alysha

hi smile 9n a half years ago i had a gorgeous lil man born with a complete bi-lateral cleft palate. he also had/has numerous other medical problems goin on too. i wont bore u with the details of anything other than the cleft lol. im not sure where ur located but im in nsw and the childrens hospital at westmead was absolutley amazing smile the help i got from the cleft palate team was astounding. they explained every little detail until i fully understood it, the plastic surgeons, ent doctors, ear specialists and speech pathologists etc.. were so very comforting and welcoming. in all honesty there is no need for you to be freeking out. yes it is a lil scary but if this is the only hurdle ur baby will have to endure then ur doin pretty well. sometimes with clefts feeding issues arrise but most of the time are easilt solved and if surgery is needed they generally do it as early as possible to allow better healing.
im curious to know if they have been able to pick up a cleft during any of the ultrasounds?? when i had my ultrasounds they told me (on 3 seperate occasions) that everything was fine. THEY LIED! its totally beyond me how they missed a gaping hole in his mouth and half his brain missing! even i can see it looking back on the ultrasound pics and comparing them to the pics of my other children. if ur super worried ask for another scan, maybe getting an early answer now will give u time to get used to the idea so its not a shock at birth. as for worrying about what others think or what they r gunna say i wudnt fuss bout it, everyone is gunna have thwir opinions but the only view of the situation tht is gunna matter is urs and the doctors involved so if anyone else wants to voice a negative opinion bout the baby having a cleft then they are just making it abundantly clear they do not deserve to be i. urs or ur baby's life. sorry to be harsh lol.
all u really need to be worrying bout is not steessing bout it too much and focus on being healthy for ur belly full of arms and legs smile xxx

Hi,

I am 35 weeks pregnant and was just wondering if there are any other mums out there with a newborn that has a cleft lip/palate. I had a cleft lip as a baby so I kind of had a feeling my bub would too, however, as time draws closer to the birth I'm starting to freak out and worried how people will react.

I'd love any advice! I am planning to call Cleftpals this week.

smile Alysha

and also cleftpals will be one of ur strongest support networks. dont alienate urself from them, u wont be alone.

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. The cleft lip and palate was picked up on ultrasounds. They check it every time I have a scan now. I am glad I found out before the birth so that my husband and I have had time to comprehend it all.

I know we will get through it. I'm looking forward to joing the Cleftpals group and attending their get togethers. I think it will help a lot.

Hi
I don't have a cleft palate ir anything but my older brother does he is 26 this year and he is a well adjusted adult who just joined the army!!!
I can understand your concerns as because of the history in my family there is a chance my baby could have it as well.... I'm not worried at all
Westmead children's hospital has been amazing in my brother's treatment and while I hope my baby is fine I have faith in the fact that if the baby has a cleft palate Westmead will be my first port of call...
People are more accepting these days and there is a lot more information and help then there was 26 years ago!!!
I hope all goes well and you have all the support you need xx

Hi Alysha,
I am just wondering if you can give me an update on how things are going for you and the baby.
I am 23 weeks pregnant and my baby will also be born with a cleft lip and palate.

Thanks
Bel

They picked it up at the 20 week scan, it was a bit of a shock. I am going for another ultrasound today to see how things are progressing.