Impact of the Timing of Prenatal Counseling on Growth in Infants With Cleft Palate

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of the timing of prenatal counseling, in parental gestational days, on infant's duration from birth to the first documented return to birth weight and percent growth velocity for weight, compared with facility standards within the first 6 months of life. Design: An electronic medical record retrospective review was completed for infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and cleft palate (CP) and their corresponding birth parents' charts. Participating birth parents had received prenatal counseling with a speech-language pathologist and plastic surgeon. Results: Data for 13 infants and their corresponding birth parents were collected. Percent growth velocity for weight compared with facility standards was calculated between 0–3 and 3–6 months. Data analysis revealed a decreased duration from birth to the first documented return to birth weight, in days ( r s = −.2619, p = .3874), when prenatal counseling occurred later in pregnancy. Additionally, increased percent growth velocity between 0 and 3 months ( r s = .1833, p = .7176) and decreased percent growth velocity between 3 and 6 months ( r s = −.3833, p = .317) were found when prenatal counseling occurred later in pregnancy. The above correlations were weak, and the p values were insignificant. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the timing of prenatal counseling may be associated with growth velocity in infants with CP and CLP, although the observed correlation was weak. Cleft teams should consider providing additional prenatal education near full-term gestational age.