Anyone know a baby born with a cleft palate?

Sunflower777

Our neighbors found out at their big u/s that they are having a little girl and she has a cleft palate. They will be doing more procedures (a 3D ultrasound and some other things) to find out the extent of her condition, but I'm just wondering - anyone know a baby born with a cleft palate? How many surgeries were needed to correct the condition? Did the baby have feeding problems??

AnnapolisLari

I thought there was a nestie who had 2 kids born with bilateral cleft palates. I may be wrong.

Heidisean

Yes, I work in pediatrics as an OT so I deal with feeding issues with child born with both cleft lip/cleft palate or just one.  Sometimes it is bilateral (both sides) and sometimes just one.  They have 2 different special nipples for bottles that kids with this condition do better with as the nipples are long and soft (Haberman Feeders or Pigeon Nipples).  Each kid is different and depending on the severity it can be 2 or more surgeries.  If she does also have a cleft lip it is usually not seen on US.  Many parents have told me that it was not caught on US because it was just cleft lip and not the palate.  Most kids do very, very well with surgeries along with some OT for feeding therapy.  Usually, as the kid grows they will need a surgery or two to help correct it but again each kid is different I have seen as little as 2 surgeries to 5.  GL to your friend's child. 

Lea LaJeunesse-Askren

Her name is Laura - Mom2Jakob (I know she has a new name now, since she has her beautiful little girls (Caroline, I belive!)

Both her children were born with cleft palates. they are so adorable. I know she checks in every so often or others let her know she is being paged, I would try and get it touch with her

ilovemygirls

I worked with a gal who had a baby born with a cleft palate.  I recall they had to supplement with some heavy duty enriched formula to make sure that he had all of his nutritional needs met before his surgeries.  From what I recall, he had 2-3 surgeries. Quite frankly, you could hardly tell he'd had an issue following his procedures- it was amazing!  I do remember the mom telling me that when she found out initially it was very hard, but when she did more research she realized this was the most correctable birth defect and was grateful things weren't worse (again, her words- not mine, I've not walked in those shoes!).  But your friend has every reason to believe that her daughter's condition will be corrected & she'll have a full and happy life.  You are a great friend for wanting to find out more & help support her through this. 

JOEBunny

My little cousin (now 6'3" tall and 24) was born with a cleft palate.  I only remember him having one surgery when he was a still a baby, but fairly old.  He had to be fed sitting more upright than other babies, but I don't remember it being a serious problem.  He was thin, but he is still thin, as are most of the members of my family under 50. 

He is getting his master's in a chemistry science profession and has no other problems.  He is very smart. 

P.G.&A.M.

My guess is generally the number of surgeries and if there are feeding problems depends on the extent of the cleft. There can also be speech issues and missing teeth?sometimes with a cleft palate.

marchbaby

My cousin was born with a cleft palate, but that was 29 years ago.  I am not sure how many surgeries he had since I was only two weeks older then him I don't remember all of that!  I know that he did have trouble feeding, but at the time they didn't have all the different options they have now with equipment, nipples etc.

He did have a lot of speech problems early on, he saw speech therapists through grade school.  But he's now 29 and totally fine.  He can't breathe through his nose, not sure if this is related?   But otherwise you would never know.