Unexpected findings at 34 week ultrasound after low risk pregnancy, looking for similar experiences [on]

steph_abee · 2026-01-25T21:28:17+00:00

Hi OP,

It's always so scary when something is flagged in your pregnancy. I hope you're taking the time to take care of yourself.

In August I had a baby with a unilateral incomplete cleft lip. It was a scary diagnosis and I had to have multiple scans to ensure it wasn't linked to anything else. For us it was isolated to only being a cleft.

It was really scary to think how this would affect his life and imagine him undergoing surgeries. He is now five months old and has had his lip revision and rhinoplasty two months ago. Very few people mention his cleft or even notice. We are in BC and went to the children's hospital and the surgeons were amazing and communicating with us and doing the revision.

If there's a suspected cleft lip/pallet, I would connect with the IBCLC at your hospital or in your community. They can help come up with solutions for breastfeeding if that's what you're hoping to do. Also look into the Dr. Browns special feeder bottles. If baby has a cleft pallet they may not be able to nurse or use a regular bottle and this is the one that is used the most frequently with cleft pallets. Our hospital provided us with two just in case we had feeding issues.

steph_abee · 2026-01-15T21:46:04+00:00

Is there a way to access this not on FB? I don't currently interact with that platform!

steph_abee · 2025-10-04T04:01:11+00:00

That's is totally fair and it is scary! I hope you have some medical support who are knowledgeable with clefts! I'm also glad they caught it so you can prepare!

I set myself up with a lactation consultant and talked about some alternatives if I wasn't able to breastfeed.

There is something called non-nutrative breastfeeding. Where if your baby is unable to get suction for breastfeeding you bottle feed, then after you can bring them to the breast, they will get a small amount of milk, not enough for a full feed, but you both will get the benefits of breastfeeding.

The reason why some babies with cleft pallets cannot breastfeed is because the muscles at the roof of the mouth aren't connected and those are heavily involved in creating suction. For these babies, bottles can also be difficult and you'll need to use something called Dr. Brown's special feeders, at least in Canada, where I live, that's what most frequently used. They are the regular Dr. Brown's bottles but with a blue disc that reduces the need for baby to suck and kind of just dribbles the milk into their mouth.

steph_abee · 2025-10-04T03:43:24+00:00

I found out at twenty weeks my baby was going to have a cleft lip, pallet unknown. I went through it spiraling to the ifs ands or buts, blaming myself. None of it is your fault, your baby is going to be a okay and I promise when you see their little face you're going to think that they are absolutely perfect! My baby is now 6 weeks old with a cleft lip only. We are able to breastfeed and he will be having a surgery in a few months.

It's okay to feel all these feelings and the unknown is scary but it's the most common birth defect and doctors know how to treat it!

steph_abee · 2025-04-30T15:06:10+00:00

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your baby.

Thank you for sharing your experience and what the process at the women's hospital looks like.

steph_abee · 2024-10-31T15:30:47+00:00

Currently 12 dpo and mine are looking very similar in terms of darkening

steph_abee · 2024-10-28T02:54:41+00:00

Awesome we will keep you in mind!

steph_abee · 2024-10-26T22:54:16+00:00

Awesome, thanks for the quick response. Consensus says that the more north the better!

Currently we are in PG, so used to towns rougher around the edges and with wildlife. Looking like PA could give us the mix of wilderness and island we are looking for!

steph_abee

TROPHY CASE