Listen "Surprised and Unprepared: Cleft Palate Birth Stories and the Gaps in Early Care with Brittnie Hampson"
Episode Synopsis
In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with fellow cleft mama Brittnie Hampson @britthampson to share their deeply personal experiences of discovering their daughters' cleft palates at birth—both born at UNC. They reflect on the shock of an unexpected diagnosis, the overwhelming emotions that followed, and the immediate challenges they faced—especially with feeding. Laura and Brittnie open up about the lack of nurse education they encountered in the hospital and how unprepared many staff were to support a cleft palate diagnosis. Together, they talk about what it means to advocate for your child when you feel lost, and how connection and shared stories can bring clarity, comfort, and strength. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store NC Cleft Mom FB Group Our Forever Smiles FB Group _________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.
More episodes of the podcast Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
School-Age Cleft Journeys: Stacy Swope on Buccal Flap & Bone Graft Success with Son Benjamin
28/10/2025
From Nurse to National Advocate for Cleft Care & the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act with Luci Capo Rome
23/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.