Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate Diagnosed During Pregnancy? What Parents Should Know
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At Connecticut Children’s, our Fetal Care Center and craniofacial team work together from pregnancy through childhood.
Finding out your baby has a cleft lip or cleft palate during an ultrasound can feel scary. You may have many questions. You may also feel worried or overwhelmed.
The good news: Most babies with a cleft lip or palate do very well. With the right fetal care and craniofacial teams, your baby can grow, feed, and thrive.
Care and treatment for cleft lips and palates starts now — not after birth.
What’s the difference between a cleft lip and a cleft palate?
A cleft lip forms early in pregnancy when the lip does not fully join together. It can affect one side or both sides of the lip.
A cleft palate happens when the roof of the mouth does not close completely.
These conditions are very and not caused by anything the parents “did.”
What happens after a prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip or cleft palate?
A prenatal diagnosis gives you time to prepare. During pregnancy, you will:
You will meet both teams before your baby is born—and in most cases, during one, full-day team meeting. That means there is no “handoff” after delivery. It is one coordinated plan.
What Parents Should Know About Cleft Lip and Palate
A cleft lip or palate diagnosed during pregnancy is common.
Most babies do not need NICU care.
Feeding support is available right after birth.
Surgery usually happens in the first year of life.
Care continues through childhood with a full team of specialists.
With the right plan and the right team, your baby can thrive.
Will my baby need to stay in the NICU?
For just an isolated cleft lip or palate, without any other health issues, most babies:
Do NOT need the NICU
Do NOT need a feeding tube
Go home on a typical newborn schedule
If your baby feeds well and has no other medical concerns, the hospital stay is usually the same as any other newborn.
How will my baby eat?
Babies with cleft lip and/or palate usually use special bottles that do not require them to suck. These are called compression-based bottles.
Common options include:
Dr. Brown specialty feeding system
Pigeon bottle
Our craniofacial team will:
Help your family choose the right bottle
Show you how to feed your baby
Check weight gain
Provide close follow-up
If you deliver at Hartford Hospital, we can meet you in the newborn nursery. If you deliver somewhere else, we offer phone or video support until you are able to visit our clinic.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are conditions that are not caused by anything the parents “did.”
Christopher D. Hughes, MD,
Division Head, Plastic Surgery & Craniofacial Team
How old does my baby have to be for cleft lip and/or palate surgery?
Most cleft repairs follow this timeline:
Cleft lip repair: Around 3–4 months old
Cleft palate repair: Around 10–12 months old
If the cleft is wide, we may use a gentle taping system called DynaCleft before surgery. This helps prepare the lip and nose for repair.
Your pediatric surgeon will explain the full plan so you know what to expect.
We follow children from infancy through adolescence to support speech, teeth development, growth, and confidence.
Will this affect my baby’s teeth?
Some children with cleft lip and palate may have differences in how their teeth grow in. Our team includes dentists and orthodontists who monitor this closely and guide care as adult teeth develop.
Support and resources for parents of cleft surgery babies
Here at Connecticut Children's, we connect families with:
Parent-to-parent support programs
Family advisory groups
National cleft and craniofacial organizations
Talking with other parents who have been through this can make a big difference.
Why early planning matters
When cleft lip or palate is diagnosed during pregnancy, care begins before birth.
You have time to:
Ask questions
Make a plan
Prepare for feeding
Meet your baby’s surgeons
Feel supported
Our fetal care and craniofacial teams work side by side with you at the center of your baby’s care team.
Considering Prenatal Consultation for Cleft Lip or Palate?
If your ultrasound shows a cleft lip or palate, ask your OB or maternal-fetal medicine physician for a referral to Connecticut Children’s Fetal Care Center. Early consultation helps you feel ready and informed before delivery.
