The Cleft Mama Podcast

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.