News of a cleft in your baby's lip or palate can be a shock, but it is a well-known condition with an organised treatment path and good outcomes.
Stage one: feeding and assessment
Parents are guided on suitable feeding methods and special bottles, and the baby receives an overall assessment.
Stage two: lip repair
Usually in the first months: the opening is closed and the lip and nose are reshaped as far as possible.
Stage three: palate repair
Usually in the second half of the first year or shortly after, to improve eating and speech.
Later stages
Speech follow-up with a therapist, orthodontics, bone grafting of the jaw before the canine teeth erupt when needed, and later aesthetic revision.
The plan differs from child to child; what matters most is keeping to follow-up and asking questions freely.