This study is aimed at clarifying the negative events experienced by mothers raising children with cleft lip and palate. Semi-structured interviews were held with 18 mothers living in Western Japan. The following factors were extracted from content analysis: birth of an unhealthy child, difficulty in remedial education, anxiety over the child\u27s future, improper treatment in the maternity ward, lack of the family understanding, unavailability of social support, the mother\u27s excessive responses to others, and feelings difficult to overcome. Feelings difficult to overcome, which covers points such as being unable to accept the fact and hesitation in bearing another child, may be considered a posttraumatic stress disorder. To prevent a vicious cycle of negative events, establishing a system that allows mothers to see other specialists early after childbirth is recommended. This will provide mothers with the opportunity to receive advice on the expected remedial education, and to integrate certified genetic counselors into team-based care
