Possible cleft lip on 20 week US

[BrittRashel]

I haven't posted in a while, life has been pretty crazy for me. We had our 20 week ultrasound two days ago and from what my husband and I saw, everything looked fine. Of course, we don’t look at ultrasounds all day so what do we really know. The ultrasound tech took longer than I thought was normal but I just assumed she was being very thorough since I didn’t see anything that looked strange with him. She didn’t seem like anything was wrong but I am guessing that she is supposed to act normal no matter what so that the doctor can actually evaluate the ultrasound to make any type of diagnosis.

After the ultrasound was over, I had my normal 20 week appointment with my OB. My doctor came in and said that they the tech believes that she saw a cleft lip on the ultrasound. We were shocked because we didn’t see anything like that. My doctor said that she is sending me to a specialist on Monday for a 3D ultrasound to verify and hopefully be able to determine the severity if he does have a cleft. I’m hoping that the tech was wrong but I have had time to make peace with the fact that he may have a cleft lip and am now just praying that the palate isn’t involved. From what I have read, a cleft lip is very manageable and those babies can even nurse most of the time with the help of a lactation consultant. If he has a cleft palate as well though, we may have to look into special feeding equipment and the surgeries he would need are more extensive.

Monday seems so far away. I hate not knowing. I have had a hard time focusing at work since we found out. It’s all I can think about. I know that things could be so much worse and that I should be thankful that he is otherwise healthy and I am. I am so very thankful. I just want to be able to mentally prepare myself for the challenges we will face. I want to know whether or not I will be able to nurse my baby or if I need to accept that I will likely have to pump and give him expressed milk. There are so many questions and no way for me to know the answers until they can get a more detailed look at his face. This is going to be a very long weekend.

 

[DannaD]

I'm sorry you're going through this! I sure hope it's just a scare.
I just wanted to say that whether he has cleft palate or not is very very hard to see on US, 3d or 2d. So if it is confirmed that he has cleft lip on monday, I'd get ready to not know for sure about the palate until he is born.
Good luck on monday!

 

[BrittRashel]

Thanks! I guess it does make sense that it would be challenging to detect on an ultrasound as it is inside the mouth. I guess we'll just prepare for the worst and pray for the best. I was happy that they could get me in so quickly. I would hate to wait any longer to find out something.

 

[winterbabies3]

Hopefully see wasn't looking well enough! I member having a picture of DS1 and thinking it looked a lot like a Cleft Palit. Wishing you best of luck!!

 

[Qmama79]

Dear expectant mum, I like your attitude. It's good to feel prepared for whatever might come. I just wanted to add that it's great that you're wanting to express BM if baby can't nurse, just know that it's okay as well to use formula if nursing issues arise. My first couldn't nurse as a premie, and subsequently my milk never really came in. He had a combined diet of BM and Formula til 8 months. Be open for whatever feeding option is feasible.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[BrittRashel]

I really hope that isn't the case for me. I had my heart set on breastfeeding for at least a year. I am hoping to keep that goal even if he can nurse directly from the breast. I didn't even come close to meeting my last goal with my first so I think I would have a really hard time if that happened again.

 

[DannaD]

My friend who had a baby with cleft palate pumped, it worked well for them. She said you get used to the special bibs pretty fast. Now baby is 1 year old and getting her operation to close the cleft palate this week

I do agree with Qmama though, try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Cleft lip/palate already is an added challenge, with the stress that goes with it.

 

[Domimom]

I'm sorry you have to worry about that. I also got worrisome news at my 20 week appt, doctor said baby's head is measuring small so he wants me back in a month to re-check. A month is so long! He said if there is growth he won't worry, if there isn't growth he will worry. I am trying not to worry but it's really hard! Both times I have had ultrasounds it has been stressful, first time he only saw 1 artery to umbilical cord, this time he saw 2. Baby was moving alot and she is squished by a fibroid on my uterus so hoping that is why measurement is off. I know it's hard. Hopefully they are wrong and if not at least something that is manageable.

 

[stir crazy]

Hi hun, we also found out at 20 weeks our little boy has a cleft lip, we was made to wait a week for amore detailed scan to confirm this. Its was the hardest week I've ever had, the only way I coped was to just accept our little peanut had it,by the time the day came of scan I was prepared and to be honest I didn't care about the cleft lip, I seen my boy on the screen he was healthy all my worries faded away. By boys cleft lip was measured at 5mm and as far as they could tell hard palate was intact,but will no for sure till his born. When peanut is 3months his first surgery will be to close his lip,IF his palate is affected that surgery will be when he is around 6months. Hope all goes well at your scan hun.
Big hugs xx

 

[winterbabies3]

Good luck today!

 

[cosmicgirlxxx]

How did you get on hun? x