Yellowjackets actress shares the emotional journey of preparing for her baby’s cleft lip surgery

When Samantha Hanratty, actress and star of Yellowjackets, discovered during pregnancy that her baby would be born with a cleft lip, she faced a wave of emotions. Now, having welcomed her son on New Year’s Eve 2024, Hanratty is embracing motherhood with courage and optimism as she prepares to support him through surgery.

By openly sharing her story, Hanratty is helping to destigmatize one of the most common congenital conditions while reminding moms everywhere that resilience and community can be found in even the most unexpected moments.

Related: 8 essential questions to ask at your 20-week anatomy scan appointment

Why her story matters

Parenting is full of surprises, but for moms like Hanratty, hearing a diagnosis during pregnancy can feel overwhelming. Roughly one in 700 children are born with a cleft lip and/or palate, and approximately every three minutes, a baby enters the world with this condition. Yet, the topic often goes unspoken, leaving many parents to process the news in isolation.

That’s why Hanratty’s openness matters. By using her platform to shine a light on the challenges and triumphs of cleft lip diagnoses, she’s creating space for parents to feel seen, supported, and less alone.

Facing the diagnosis

At her 20-week scan, Hanratty learned of her baby’s cleft lip diagnosis. “Of course I cried when I found out,” she shared in an interview with TODAY.com. “You don’t want to think about your child having to go through surgery, especially at 3 weeks old or a year old.”

She admitted the news came as a shock. “it doesn’t run in my family, it doesn’t run in my husband’s family,” she shared in a TikTok video. “And the biggest thing that we all want is that we want our kids to be happy and we want our kids to be healthy.”

Her initial shock soon turned into action. Hanratty leaned on her husband, Christian DeAnda, and her work as an ambassador for Smile Train, a nonprofit providing free cleft treatment worldwide. “It’s something so common that people don’t talk about very often,” Hanratty told TODAY.com. “I figured it’s another way to educate people.” 

Finding strength through connection

Sharing her son’s diagnosis publicly wasn’t easy, but the response surprised her. “I did not expect this pure kindness that I’ve been receiving,” she told TODAY.com. Through TikTok and online communities, she’s connected with other moms navigating similar journeys, forming a network of support. “We get to be there for the next mamas who are going to find out about what their baby is going through,” she shared.

Her vulnerability has turned into a source of strength—not just for herself but for others.

Preparing for surgery

Since her son’s birth, Hanratty has been candid about the emotional hurdles of preparing for surgery. In a TikTok update, she shared: “The emotions and hormones are strong haha! Wanted to give a #cleftlip update♥️ I will share my birth story soon! Please know I feel extremely grateful and privileged we have the opportunity to even get this surgery done. It’s just a hard thing as a mom to have him go into surgery so young. And I think he’s absolutely perfect if you can’t tell.”

Her son’s resilience inspires her daily. “Whenever I start to feel sad, he starts kicking,” she recalled from pregnancy. “I think it’s his way of telling me, ‘I’m fine.’”

A message of hope

Even as she prepares for her son’s upcoming surgeries, Hanratty has found peace and gratitude. “I think this is how my son was always supposed to be,” she told TODAY.com. Her openness is a powerful reminder that parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about love, advocacy, and finding strength in the unexpected.

For moms navigating similar diagnoses, Hanratty’s journey offers reassurance: You are not alone, and your story matters, too.

Related: Mom credits ‘miracle baby’ for saving her life during rare, life-threatening heart condition