Mental Health, Motherhood, and a Surprise Cleft Diagnosis
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo · Laura Arroyo
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Show Notes
In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Brandy, a mom of two whose youngest daughter was born with a surprise cleft palate diagnosed at birth.
After a smooth pregnancy and normal ultrasounds, Brandy and her husband were shocked to learn about their daughter's cleft in the delivery room. What followed was a whirlwind of feeding challenges, jaundice, long hospital stays, specialty bottles, weekly therapy appointments, and eventually cleft palate repair surgery.
Brandy shares openly about navigating postpartum depression, advocating for her daughter's feeding needs, discovering the right cleft bottle after weeks of struggle, and learning her daughter also had a laryngeal cleft that required repair. She also speaks candidly about balancing the needs of a toddler while caring for a baby with medical complexities.
This episode is for any cleft mom who feels overwhelmed, exhausted, or uncertain. It is a reminder that advocacy matters, mental health support is essential, and even in the hardest seasons, there can still be joy.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, preparing for cleft surgery, struggling with feeding, or walking the long road of appointments, this conversation will help you feel seen and supported.
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