Unilateral cleft lip

[olivia0806]

Hello,

We found out recently our baby will be born with a unilateral cleft lip. They think the palette looks ok but not 100% sure. Just wonder if anyone has experienced this? I've been reading up on it but I just wanted to know if it's realistic that my baby will live a normal life post op? TIA

very probably - they normally repair them when babies are very young!
Lots of good info available online, start with www.nhs.uk/conditions/cleft-lip-and-palate/.
Most of the time in Adults they have a very faint scar or nothing at all.

@JustAnotherUserinParadise thank you! It does seem that it's not a massive deal, it's just the initial shock and the feeling right now that I just want the best life for my baby ❤️

I can't give any medical insight, but I know several adults with repaired cleft lips/palettes and they are all completely fine. Afaik in the vast majority of cases the only long-term side effect is the scar, and those are usually pretty mild.

@RiaOverTheRainbow thank you 😊

Hi OP,

We were in exactly the same position as you years ago. Our daughter was born with a complete unilateral cleft lip with a gum notch. It’s such a shock but please don’t be worried. Our daughter had her lip repair at 5 months old and she will have her bone graft for her gum notch when she’s 8 ish. Faint scar but the surgeons are bloody superheroes.
You’ll have an assigned cleft nurse to help you (if you haven’t got one already) and the charity CLAPA are an amazing resource. We got a free 4d scan from a local clinic through them.
Feel free to ask any questions you want!

Hi OP, I have a unilateral cleft lip with a cleft palate. I know its not the news you ever want to hear that your baby has a birth defect but a cleft lip is so treatable.

I cant say OP that it hasnt not affected me as it has. My first op when I was a baby on paper went well, they fixed the lip fine but visually after my nose was not symmetrical and was far wider on the side with the cleft. My dad was never happy with it but bear in mind this was nearly 30 years ago. I also had to have a lot of dental work and an extra op that was due to the cleft palate which is hopefully fine with your baby. My dad found an amazing doctor too who specialised in rhinoplasty and I had a further op at around 16 to try and make my nose more symmetrical which went well. I wouldnt quite say I was bullied but kids defo pointed out my scar and nose when I was growing up and it def affected my confidence. But kids get picked on, its a way of life and it could of happened even if i'd just of had say a big nose. It hit my dad hard probably worse than me, feeding at the start was hard, he hated when I cried about it and always hated how people stared when I was a baby before it was fixed.

Hitting my 20's tho everything has been fine I barely think about it, my confidence has grown and I live a completely normal life. Not to be shallow but make up has really helped me and ive also had lip fillers to help even out my top lip too, theres so much now that can be done now until your happy yourself. I could of had another rhinoplasty but personally im fine with how I am now.

Sorry OP long post but its obviously something close to me and I just really want to stress how much of a 'normal' life your baby can lead. Good Luck OP your baby will be beautiful, perfect and yours.