The Cleft Mama Podcast

Anja Pownell

The Cleft Mama Podcast is a place for real, honest conversations about life with a baby or child born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Hosted by Anja Pownell, a German mum of three living in the UK, it brings together personal experience, practical guidance, and expert insight to help families navigate the cleft journey with more confidence and less overwhelm. After receiving a cleft diagnosis at her 20-week scan with her third baby, Anja set out to understand everything she could — from feeding and surgery to long-term care and development. Drawing on her own experience and conversations with parents and professionals, she shares the knowledge and reassurance she wished she had at the very beginning. From diagnosis and feeding to surgeries, speech, dentistry, and everyday family life, this podcast offers gentle guidance and real-life insight to support you and your child every step of the way.

  1. 6 days ago

    The Tongue's Hidden Role in Cleft Palate Development

    An explainer episode on the surprising role the tongue plays in jaw growth and cleft widening — and why some cleft centres (though not the UK) use passive or active plates before surgery. It covers the research on plate effectiveness and why the evidence is still inconclusive. References: Bühling S, Selge HM, Eslami S, Seifert LB, Sayahpour B, Plein N, Sader R, Kopp S. Impact of Active and Passive Maxillary Plates on Cleft Width Morphology in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Prospective Intervention Study. Children (Basel). 2025 May 30;12(6):714. doi: 10.3390/children12060714. PMID: 40564672; PMCID: PMC12191339. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12191339/ Dallaserra M, Pantoja T, Salazar J, Araya I, Yanine N, Villanueva J. Effectiveness of pre-surgical orthopedics on patients with cleft lip and palate: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Oct;123(5):e506-e520. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2022.02.004. Epub 2022 Feb 10. PMID: 35151895. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35151895/ Disclaimer: Statements made in this podcast do not constitute medical advice. The information is provided solely for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual consultation with a qualified professional. I can accept no liability for any damages arising from the use of the information provided here.

  2. 3 Aug

    A Dad's Perspective: Diagnosis, Surgery Day, and Night Feeds (with Chris Pownell)

    Anja's husband Chris shares the diagnosis day, the shock of seeing Mika's mouth for the first time, doing all the night feeds by finger-feeder and bottle, surgery day at the hospital, and his advice to other dads: don't Google, talk to the cleft nurses. Chris' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thathomeschooldad/ Disclaimer: Statements made in this podcast do not constitute medical advice. The information is provided solely for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual consultation with a qualified professional. I can accept no liability for any damages arising from the use of the information provided here.

  3. 27 Jul

    The UK Cleft Care Pathway: From Diagnosis to Age 20

    A full walkthrough of the UK's centralised cleft care system — lip and palate repair timing, alveolar bone grafts, the CRANE database and audit clinics, and why the pathway isn't a prediction of what your own child will need. Reference: Dudding T, Martin S, Popat S. An introduction to the UK care pathway for children born with a cleft of the lip and/or palate. Br Dent J. 2023 Jun;234(12):943-946. doi: 10.1038/s41415-023-5998-z. Epub 2023 Jun 23. PMID: 37349451; PMCID: PMC10287563.; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10287563/ Disclaimer: Statements made in this podcast do not constitute medical advice. The information is provided solely for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual consultation with a qualified professional. I can accept no liability for any damages arising from the use of the information provided here.

  4. 20 Jul

    Pierre Robin Sequence: NICU, NPAs, and Advocating for Your Baby (with Mariam)

    Mariam talks through her daughter's Pierre Robin sequence diagnosis, the NG tube and NPA breathing tube, sleep studies at Great Ormond Street, and the moment she pushed back on "average" timelines to get her daughter's breathing tube removed sooner — plus honest talk about pumping burnout and formula guilt. Disclaimer: Statements made in this podcast do not constitute medical advice. The information is provided solely for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual consultation with a qualified professional. I can accept no liability for any damages arising from the use of the information provided here.

  5. 13 Jul

    E16: Sarah's Incredible Journey to Breastfeeding a Baby with a Cleft Palate (with Sarah Muir Little)

    When Sarah's son was diagnosed with a unilateral cleft lip and possibly cleft palate at the 20-week scan, she was told that breastfeeding wouldn't be possible. But instead of accepting that as the end of the story, she spent months researching, experimenting and finding a different path. In this episode, Sarah shares the incredible journey that eventually led to direct breastfeeding after palate repair. We talk about expressing milk, finger feeding, supplemental nursing systems (SNS), maintaining milk supply, lip and palate surgery, and why patience and persistence were key. Whether you're hoping to breastfeed, provide expressed breastmilk, or simply want to understand the different feeding options available for babies born with a cleft lip and palate, this conversation is full of practical advice and hope. References: Sarah's blog: https://cleftfeeding.blogspot.com/  Courses by Ulrike Giebel (in German for now): For parents: https://payhip.com/b/oeBOX For healthcare professionals: https://payhip.com/b/SlOwG  Medela SNS: https://amzn.to/44pzOpc Haakaa SNS: https://amzn.to/4aJ1ZmH Disclaimer: Statements made in this podcast do not constitute medical advice. The information is provided solely for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual consultation with a qualified professional. I can accept no liability for any damages arising from the use of the information provided here.

  6. 6 Jul

    Ask The Cleft Mama | Your Questions Answered

    In this very first Ask The Cleft Mama Q&A, I'm answering some of the questions I've been asked most often by parents in the cleft community. I talk about: 💛 The hardest part of receiving my baby's diagnosis 🍼 Preparing for feeding and harvesting colostrum 📚 Where to find trustworthy cleft information (and why I'd avoid Google!) 😊 When things started to feel easier 🍼 Which bottles I'd recommend buying before birth ❤️ Plus a few questions about my son, the podcast and balancing family life. Whether you're newly diagnosed or already navigating life with a baby born with a cleft, I hope these answers help you feel a little more prepared and a little less alone. References: Anja's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecleftmama/  Anja's email: anja@anjapownell.com Courses by Ulrike Giebel (in German for now): For parents: https://payhip.com/b/oeBOX For healthcare professionals: https://payhip.com/b/SlOwG  Scientific publications search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/  CLAPA welcome pack requests: https://clapa.com/support-and-community/for-parents-and-families/welcome-packs/  MAM wide neck Size 3 teat and bottle: https://amzn.to/4dpgwFF  MAM wide neck Size X teats: https://amzn.to/4dtVjth Disclaimer: Statements made in this podcast do not constitute medical advice. The information is provided solely for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual consultation with a qualified professional. I can accept no liability for any damages arising from the use of the information provided here.

  7. 29 Jun

    The Surprising Research on Parents' Wellbeing After a Cleft Diagnosis

    In this second episode exploring the work of the Cleft Collective, I take a closer look at three fascinating research studies that are already helping shape the future of cleft care. We discuss: 🧬 Whether giving more antibiotics after cleft palate surgery reduces the risk of fistulas. 🧬 Why left- and right-sided clefts may not be as similar as we once thought. 🧬 What research tells us about the wellbeing and quality of life of parents raising children with a cleft. One of my favourite findings is that, by the time children are five years old, many parents actually report a quality of life that is as good as—or even better than—the general population. It's a hopeful reminder that while the early days can feel overwhelming, things really do get easier. References:   Cleft collective publications: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/dental/cleft-collective/families/publications/ Davies, Alex MBChB, FRCS(Plast)*,†; Davies, Amy MSc†,‡; Main, Barry PhD, MFDS, FRCS(OMFS)‡,§; Wren, Yvonne MEd, PhD, CertMRCSLT†,‡; Deacon, Scott MOrth, MDTFEd, FDS(Orth)*; Cobb, Alistair FRCS(OMFS), FDSRCS(Eng), MFSEM(UK)*; McLean, Neil BSc, MD, FRCS¶; David, David AC, MD, FRACS¶; Chummun, Shaheel MBBS, MASurg(Cranio), FRCS(Plast)*. Association of Perioperative Antibiotics with the Prevention of Postoperative Fistula after Cleft Palate Repair. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery-Global Open 12(2):p e5589, February 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005589 https://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/2024/02000/association_of_perioperative_antibiotics_with_the.20.aspx  Fell M, Fitzsimons KJ, Hamilton MJ, et al. Cleft lip Sidedness and the Association with Additional Congenital Malformations. The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal. 2025;62(9):1504-1515. doi:10.1177/10556656241261918; https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10556656241261918 Nicola M Stock, Debora Blaso, Paul White, Laura Shepherd, Bruna Costa, Karine Edme, Richa Aspland, Matthew Hotton, Longitudinal psychological well-being in caregivers of young children with cleft lip and/or palate, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Volume 50, Issue 9, September 2025, Pages 831–842, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsaf029; https://academic.oup.com/jpepsy/article/50/9/831/8126536

  8. 22 Jun

    The World's Largest Cleft Research Study Explained

    You may have heard about the Cleft Collective shortly after your diagnosis or after your baby was born, but what exactly is it? In this episode, I explain the UK's Cleft Collective research programme, the largest cleft lip and palate research study in the world. We cover what information is collected, why researchers are interested in biological samples and questionnaires, how the CRANE database fits into the picture, and how this research is helping improve care for children born with a cleft. Whether you're considering taking part yourself or are simply curious about how cleft research works, this episode will help you understand how families are helping shape the future of cleft care. References: Contact me: anja@anjapownell.com or https://www.instagram.com/thecleftmama/ Cleft collective: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/dental/cleft-collective/

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About

The Cleft Mama Podcast is a place for real, honest conversations about life with a baby or child born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Hosted by Anja Pownell, a German mum of three living in the UK, it brings together personal experience, practical guidance, and expert insight to help families navigate the cleft journey with more confidence and less overwhelm. After receiving a cleft diagnosis at her 20-week scan with her third baby, Anja set out to understand everything she could — from feeding and surgery to long-term care and development. Drawing on her own experience and conversations with parents and professionals, she shares the knowledge and reassurance she wished she had at the very beginning. From diagnosis and feeding to surgeries, speech, dentistry, and everyday family life, this podcast offers gentle guidance and real-life insight to support you and your child every step of the way.

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