Hi Everyone! & thank you so much for tuning into this week's episode of Mom Mode! On this week's episode we have Laura Arroyo on the podcast! Mother of a daughter born with a cleft palate and host to her own podcast "Our Forever Smiles" supporting mothers of children born with a cleft lip or palate.  

During this episode of Mom Mode,  Laura shares her personal journey as a mother of a child born with a cleft palate. She discusses the challenges faced, the emotional rollercoaster of receiving the diagnosis, her experience in the NICU and emphasizes the importance of community support for parents navigating similar situations and provides valuable resources for those newly diagnosed. The conversation highlights the emotional and practical aspects of parenting a child with a cleft lip or palate, offering insights and encouragement for other parents. Moms, you are not alone if you are currently navigating a diagnosis. 

Key takeaways: 

• Laura hosts the Our Forever Smiles podcast to support mothers of children with cleft lip or palate
• Cleft lip and palate can occur independently or together, with different prevalence rates between genders.
• It's normal for parents to feel a range of emotions, including guilt and worry, when facing a cleft diagnosis.
• Breastfeeding can be challenging for babies with cleft palates due to suction issues. Bottle recommendations listed below! 
• Community support is crucial for parents of children with cleft conditions.
• Resources such as Facebook groups and podcasts like (Our Forever Smiles) can provide valuable information and support. 

Perfect for:

• Moms who are currently experiencing the birth of a baby with cleft lip or cleft palate. 
• First-time moms feeling overwhelmed by their child's cleft diagnosis. 
• Moms looking for a cleft community for support.

Laura's Bottle recommendations:

• Dr. Brown's Specialty Feeding Systems (SFS) - designed for infants with cleft lip and palate or complex feeding challenges. Utilizes a blue "infant-paced feeding valve" to create compression-based flow, allowing infants to feed without needing to generate suction. 
• Pigeon Cleft Palate Bottle - specialized feeding system for infants with cleft lip/palate or weak sucking strength. 
• The Medela SpecialNeeds Feeder (formerly the Haberman Feeder) - specialized bottle designed for infants with cleft lip/palate, allowing infants to feed with minimal suction. 

Resources:

• Instagram: @ourforeversmiles 
• Podcast: Our Forever Smiles (Spotify, Apple Podcasts)
• Facebook Group: Cleft Lip and Palate Support Group 

As always, thank you so much for listening to Mom Mode - I hope these conversations bring you something that you needed to hear while on your journey through motherhood and if you enjoyed listening please subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube and leave us a review! 

xo, Nichole