Cleft lip diagnosis at 20 wk u/s

wisco

Two weeks ago our baby was diagnosed with a cleft lip.  At a followup level II u/s the radiologist said that she did not think that it involved the maxillary or the palate. This is encouraging but we cannot be for sure until the birth.  We will be interviewing three cleft teams throughout Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Madison and Marshfield) in the upcoming weeks to discuss treatment.  They say one in 600 babies in the U.S are born with cleft lip and/or palate. 

It took about a week to grieve the idea of a perfect baby and the peaceful first weeks at home hibernating together next to the wood stove.  However, after that week of fear, doubts, self-blame and pain we are grounded once again and cannot wait to welcome our beautiful baby.  We know that there may be many surgeries in the first year, but we will overcome this initial challenge.  Guess that is what parenthood is all about.      

 Anyone else going through what we are? Anyone in Wisconsin? Any advice for a first time mother going through this?