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Your Care Journey
Being born with a cleft lip and/or palate is something that can be treated, supported, and lived with confidently — and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
This page outlines what to expect on your cleft care journey — from early diagnosis through to adulthood. Everyone’s experience is different, but this gives you a clear idea of how we care for you or your child at each stage.
Before Birth – Antenatal Diagnosis
Sometimes a cleft lip (and less commonly a cleft palate) can be picked up during a routine 20-week pregnancy scan. If this happens, you’ll be referred to a specialist cleft nurse.
- Explaining the condition clearly
- Providing emotional support & advice
- Helping prepare for feeding
- Connecting you with other families
Feeding Your Baby
Feeding a baby with a cleft can be a little different — but with the right techniques and support, most babies feed well and thrive.
- Help finding the best feeding method (bottle, breast, or combination)
- Provision of specialist bottles if needed
- One-to-one support at home or in hospital
Visit our Feeding Your Baby page for practical videos and advice.
Early Years – Surgery & Support
Most babies will have surgery within the first 3–12 months of life.
- Cleft lip repair: 3–6 months
- Cleft palate repair: 9–13 months
After surgery, our team continues to monitor speech, hearing, feeding, dental growth, and psychological wellbeing.
Ongoing Support – Childhood to Teens
Children often benefit from care at different ages as they grow. This includes speech therapy, hearing checks, orthodontic support, and emotional support.
Transition to Adult Services
As young people get older, we support them to take more ownership of their care.
- Understand treatment options in later teen years
- Explore surgical refinements (if needed)
- Prepare for adult clinics
- Meet adult team members in advance
We’re here to support you throughout — into adulthood too.