Samantha Hanratty is providing a new update about her pregnancy. The 29-year-old actress, known for her role in Yellowjackets, announced last month that she and her husband, Christian DeAnda, are expecting their first child, a baby boy.
In a TikTok video posted on September 25, Samantha revealed that their son will be born with a cleft lip. She explained, “I’ve been sharing updates here and having fun with it, so I thought I would share that our baby is going to have a cleft lip and a possible cleft palate.”
The news initially shocked her, as she noted that neither she nor her husband has a family history of such conditions. “The most important thing for us is that we want our kids to be happy and healthy,” she said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, cleft lip and cleft palate are openings in the upper lip or the roof of the mouth. These occur when facial structures in an unborn baby do not close completely.
Samantha expressed that learning about the need for multiple surgeries soon after her baby’s birth was difficult. However, she feels grateful to have found excellent specialists to help. “It’s still scary to think that your precious little baby is going to be under anesthesia and that there are going to be challenges,” she stated.
She also shared that she is preparing for the possibility of not being able to nurse her baby, opting instead to pump and use formula. “It’s been emotional, but both my husband and I are at peace with the fact that we know he’s going to be okay,” she added.
Samantha acknowledged that this journey is different from what they expected. “I’m not going to lie; this has not been easy news to digest. But I’m incredibly grateful for our situation,” she said.
She noted that cleft lip and/or palate occur in about 1 in 700 births. “We’re praying it’s just the lip and not the palate because that could lead to more complications and surgeries. We’re prepared for either outcome,” she explained.
Samantha concluded her update by saying that whenever she feels sad or scared, her son kicks her, reminding her that he is fine and will be okay.
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