Cleft Lip and Long Femurs

We have been seeing the high risk doctors with this pregnancy due to our previous stillbirth. They're calling it "increased surveillance." On Monday I had a routine ultrasound just for the increased surveillance of it, and they discovered that baby Paul has a cleft lip. Paul is like his daddy and doesn't look at the camera when you're trying to take a picture of him, so it made it hard for the ultrasound tech to collect good images of his lips and palate. They tried for a very long time to verify that he did have cleft lip, but in the end, he never turned his head around and we had to leave with only a 90% chance that he had it. They told us to come back Wednesday for another scan and they would check again.

Today, we went back for another scan and he actually looked at the camera! We confirmed that he does have cleft lip on one side but we could not get good images of his palate.  We're thankful that it's only on one side and we're hoping it won't extend very far into his palate, although the doctor said there is usually palate involvement in cases like this.

Of course nobody wants to learn that something is wrong with their child, especially after losing another child. We were kind of shocked that we hadn't discovered it until 28 weeks (he always hid his face and had his hand by his chin). But, as far as physical problems with a fetus go, this is a pretty good one to have because you can generally repair the problem with surgeries after birth. We know it's probably going to be a long road of surgery, consults with a variety of specialists, and nursing/feeding problems, but we are just so thankful to have a road to go down with our little boy!

We are incredibly thankful to live in the Chattanooga area where we have a great craniofacial team that is known all over the country/world. We are also thankful to have some friends as resources who have gone down similar roads with their children.

Just in case you were wondering, I have never smoked, had alcohol, done drugs, or failed to take my prenatal vitamins, folic acid, or go to regular OB visits. I guess you could say I've done everything "by the book." From what I've read, the baby's lip/palate is already formed between weeks 3-9 of pregnancy. Since we were planning this pregnancy, I was doing everything "right" even back then! Sometimes you can do all the right things and the lips and palate still don't meet in the middle. Sometimes you can do all the right things, and your baby is stillborn.

In other baby news, baby Paul's growth percentile was 97%! His abdominal circumference was only in the 67th%. They said it went all the way from 67-97% after they measured his crazy long femurs! So, at least he'll be able to round-house kick people in the face if they make fun of his lip. And even if he can't, his momma can kick them with her crazy long femurs :)

<-femurs

Please keep us in your prayers still. We are so thankful for the people who have already been praying!

Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

  do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."