Cleft lip/palate question

I recently had a 3D/4D ultrasound... I know the visual isn't perfect and I also know new mothers tend to worry themselves sick! But I have worked in surgery and seen many infants with this type of facial deformity and I may be crazy, but I think I saw a cleft lip. I had my ultrasound at a free standing private clinic with no Physician associated so I know they will not tell you of any abnormality. Should I bring it up to my OB?

My husband and mom were with me and didn't see a thing (the entire picture was a little distorted in general, I hadn't had the best hydration due to a stomach virus but I was pushing 34 weeks, when they stop doing them). But I noticed her nose was very wide, largely asymmetrical, and her lips seemed to have a dip that was more or less pronounced depending on how she moved. In some angles it seemed very clear, in others, it was questionable.

I am not sure I should even bring it up, there is nothing to be done until birth and even though surgery is hard to deal with for any reason, there are fantastic results. But I also feel like my concerns are giving me a heads up, whereas the rest of my family may be super shocked.

Do you have the ultrasound??
I would probably bring it up just to prepare myself or ease my mind.

I would definitely bring it up with my doctor. Maybe he could do an us to check for you.

I had a 3d/4d u/s that made it look like my son had a cleft lip too...but he doesn't. The only down side to 3d is the fact that it can make it look like the baby is missing parts. But if you are really concerned talk to your dr. Good luck!

I have copies of the ultrasound to show my doc, I'd post a picture but I'm not sure how to do it.

And yeah, the surrounding fluid makes a big difference in what of your baby you can see. Sometimes the cleft looks like it's there and other times not so much. I have a tendency to self-diagnose   That's why I'm hesitant to bring it up at all!!

Quoting TrollMama:" I have copies of the ultrasound to show my doc, I'd post a picture but I'm not sure how to do it. And ... [snip!] ... it's there and other times not so much. I have a tendency to self-diagnose   That's why I'm hesitant to bring it up at all!! "

Thats how I am lol. But, it won't hurt to ask and maybe help put your mind at ease.   Have you compared it to u/s pics online of babies that DO have cleft lip?

See, the top two make it look like it's obvious. The bottom two, not so much. I guess I will ask the doc and keep my concerns from my family unless she believes there's a reason to be concerned.

Quoting TrollMama:" See, the top two make it look like it's obvious. The bottom two, not so much. I guess I will ask the doc and keep my concerns from my family unless she believes there's a reason to be concerned. "

Ohhhh....yeah, I definitely see you concern.  

Yeah! She was moving a lot so my family kinda chalked it up to distortion. It's been kinda nagging at me since, though. I'm not afraid of it, I spent the first half of my pregnancy distraught over genetic testing because I carry the genes for Muscular Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis both so I feel like in the scheme of things, a cleft lip is getting off pretty damn light.

Quoting TrollMama:" Yeah! She was moving a lot so my family kinda chalked it up to distortion. It's been kinda nagging at ... [snip!] ... Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis both so I feel like in the scheme of things, a cleft lip is getting off pretty damn light."

Yeah, exactly and the surgery they have for it is amazing. You can hardly tell they had a cleft lip.

Well, thats good you are being positive about it and preparing for it. I am interested to see what the drs say....I see your concern and wouldn't be hesitant to ask.

If/when you do ask...make sure to update us!

I think it looks like it does. My daughter was born with a bilateral cleft.

I cannot find her ultrasound pic but it looked to be only on one side but was clearly on both when she was born

Quoting TrollMama:" See, the top two make it look like it's obvious. The bottom two, not so much. I guess I will ask the doc and keep my concerns from my family unless she believes there's a reason to be concerned. "

the top two make it very obvious. good luck mama, now a days the surgery for cleft is awesome

would this have not bin seen when u had ur regular scans as its not somthing u can really miss i was born with cleth palate but did not have an air lip so they did check if are baby had it i have 2 other children we neva had it, but like everyong says they do great job now so u can hardly tell x

I'm not sure if they would have detected it or not. Or checked even. It's not the kind of thing you terminate a pregnancy for... or do anything about until after birth. In looking around online I've read many mamas didn't know until their child was born and I assume they all had an ultrasound or two! I think it may be harder to see on 2D although what I saw in 2D was a very flat nose which aroused suspicions (at the time I wasn't sure what of). But every baby looks different so I didn't immediately think "condition" so much as "where did she get her nose from?".