Antenatal Diagnosis

You will be referred into the Northwest Cleft Network once you have been given an antenatal diagnosis that your child has a cleft lip and / or palate. A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) will contact you within 24 hours of this referral being received to offer a visit at a negotiated time and place to offer support and counselling and provide information about your baby’s cleft.

At this meeting you will be able to discuss any questions you have, and the CNS will give you as much or as little information as you feel you need. This may include information about:

• The type of Cleft, and what this may mean for your baby and yourself
• Treatments available for your baby
• Feeding
• Our team and what we do

You will have an opportunity to view photographs of babies before and after the cleft repair should you wish. You will have the clinical nurse specialist’s contact number in case of any further questions.

If your baby has been born with a cleft palate, you won’t have had time to prepare during your pregnancy as this isn’t detected at your scans. This can leave you feeling shocked and saddened, particularly if you need to adjust your original feeding plans. We will support you with these feelings and provide practical help with feeding.