Cleft Moms

Cleft Moms is for you if you're expecting a baby with a cleft lip and/or palate and would like a supportive group of moms walking the journey with you.

Each quarter, we’ll open a new WhatsApp group for moms expecting a cleft-affected baby around the same window (for example, "Cleft Moms: expecting Oct–Dec 2026"). You'll join before your baby arrives, meet moms due around the same time you are, and stay connected as you move through the journey together – feeding, surgeries, milestones, and everything in between. Groups will be capped at 20 moms, so they remain personal.

Every group can do things in the way they wish. You can ask questions, compare notes, talk through upcoming surgeries, and cheer each other on through the hard days and the wins.

We know a cleft diagnosis is personal, and many moms aren't ready to share widely yet. These groups are intended to be small, private, and supportive. We ask members to respect one another’s privacy, but we cannot guarantee others actions.

Behind the Smile will not publish your identifiable photos, stories, or testimonials or share them with supporters. Please share only what you are comfortable disclosing.

Cleft Moms is not a substitute for your medical team. The moms here share what worked for their families, but every baby and every medical team is different. Always bring what you learn from Cleft Moms to your own cleft team, who know your child best.

Fill out the form below and you’ll be added to the next Cleft Moms group once there are enough moms with a similar due date.

Cleft Moms is in its early days. If it helps our community, and I have the bandwidth, I might expand it — but I'd like to start small and iron out the kinks first.

If you have feedback on how to make this more helpful for future cleft moms, email me anytime at marina@behindthesmile.org. I’d love to hear from you.