Cleft pallette

[Lisakathryn]

I'm high risk to have a child with a cleft pallette. My partner's 2 sisters and brother have one. It's totally fine and I'm quite chilled about it. I was just wondering if in this instance I would be offered any additional scans/appointments to specifically check for it?

How many weeks are you? It’s something they look at routinely at your 20w/anomaly scan

@WalkingMeAway I'm 10 weeks.

I have it in my family. If you say early on they will look for it in scans. Not sure if it’s detectable at booking in scan but definitely is at 20, they will check then

I was born with a cleft lip and palate. Its crazy your partners 3 siblings all have one the chances are raised due to genetics but doctors always told me it was a very slight higher chance. Im a twin too and we were involved in research and genetic studies looking at clefts so have met alot of people and this is the first time ive heard of 3 siblings having one. Anyway glad to hear your so chilled, ive seen people really freak out about it and although its not the news you'd want, it so treatable as im sure you know. You wont be offered any extra scans to check for this, it will just be something they look for at the 20 week scan. I asked at the 12 week scan both times however and both times they had a extra long look at babys face as apparently it can be visable that early and both times they told me they seen no abnornalities but made sure I knew it was too early to be certain. First son was fine he had a severe tongue tie but that was it and 28 weeks pregnant right now and even from the scan I can tell babies palate and lip is formed fine. Good Luck.

@PFin thanks that's great info!

I'm really not phased in the slightest if the baby does have one, my partner is a bit more concerned if it was a severe case and led to further complications. But I don't think it's a big issue, all things considered.

I didn't realise it was so rare. I think because there's so many in our immediate family with them, I assumed it was genetic. Weirdly, my partner is also a twin and his sister was born with one!

Yeah its never the news you'd want you just want your wee baby to be perfect dont you. Obv i had my first op nearly 30 years ago and it didnt go right so i had to have another so understand where your partner is coming from and feeding issues etc but they can correct it so well now.

Yeah well thats what I was led to believe chances are slightly raised but not by much but your story makes me think twice now and i've been quite 'lucky'. Im part of a boy girl twin set too 😂 crazy. Good Luck OP either your baby sounds like he/she will be in the best of hands.

I just mentioned it at the start of my anomoly scan and they had a good look.

However I was only told they can check the lip not the palette!

My ward looks after babies with left lip and palates. It's my understanding that they can't pick up an isolated cleft palates on a scan. But a lip will shop up. We often have families who have several generations of clefts. It's interesting to see how the lip surgery has improved. Our surgeons are amazing!

Yeah I'm not phased really, I was just wondering about whether there is anything additional to check. I've got my booking in appointment on Sunday so I'll ask the midwife then too 😊 thanks so much for all your help and advice, it's been great!