27/12/2025
A cleft lip is a facial anomaly that occurs when the baby’s lip does not form completely during early pregnancy.
This is the story of a woman who attended an ultrasound scan during her pregnancy but only at 36 weeks. She believed that scans were mainly necessary to check the baby’s position and to know the baby’s s.e.x.
Fast forward to delivery day. When her baby was born, she and her husband were met with a major sh0ck. Something was visibly different about the baby’s upper lip.
When asked if she had attended scans during pregnancy, she presented her 36-week scan report. The anomaly was not mentioned on that report. The doctor then asked an important question:
“Did you attend your anomaly scan?”
By now, you already know the answer.
A cleft lip is something that is usually detected during the 20-week anomaly scan. This is the scan specifically designed to assess the baby’s anatomy in detail.
Some people may wonder why this defect was not seen at 36 weeks. There are valid reasons:
Scan protocol: The protocol for a 36-week scan is very different from that of an anomaly scan. Each scan has a specific purpose.
Baby’s position: At 36 weeks, the baby’s face may be tightly tucked in the womb, making it difficult to clearly visualise facial structures:
Focus of late pregnancy scans: Later scans mainly assess the baby’s position, growth, and wellbeing. Structural anomalies are usually reviewed only if they were already identified earlier.
Facial anomalies may be missed: Facial defects are not the primary focus at this stage and can easily be overlooked.
It took time, counselling, and emotional support for the mother to fully accept her baby. Eventually, the baby underwent corrective surgery, and all turned out well.
However, this family would have been better prepared emotionally and psychologically if the appropriate scan had been done at the right time.
This is why the anomaly scan is not optional.
Timing matters.
The right scan at the right time can make all the difference.
