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Unfortunately, we can't support ad blocker usage because of the impact on our servers. If you'd like to continue, please disable your ad blocker and reload page. Key PointsCleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects in a baby’s lip and mouth.Babies and children with cleft lip and cleft palate may have feeding, speech, hearing and dental problems.We don’t always know what causes cleft lip and palate, but things like smoking, having diabetes and taking certain medicines can increase risk.Take a multivitamin with folic acid in it each day to help prevent cleft lip and cleft palate in your baby.Most babies with cleft lip and cleft palate can have surgery early in life to repair cleft lip and palate.What are cleft lip and cleft palate?Cleft lip is a birth defect in which a baby’s upper lip doesn’t form completely and has an opening in it. Cleft palate is a birth defect in which a baby’s palate (roof of the mouth) doesn’t form completely and has an opening in it. These birth defects are called oral clefts or orofacial clefts. Birth defects are health conditions that are present at birth. They change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. Birth defects can cause problems in overall health, how the body develops or how the body works. Cleft lip and cleft palate are common birth defects. In the United States:
Cleft lip and cleft palate happen very early in pregnancy. Your baby’s lips form between 4 and 7 weeks of pregnancy, and the palate forms between 6 and 9 weeks of pregnancy. Oral clefts don’t have to happen together—a baby can have one without the other. Boys are twice as likely as girls to have cleft lip with or without cleft palate. Girls are more likely than boys to have cleft palate without cleft lip. How do cleft lip and cleft palate affect a baby’s face?Some babies with a cleft lip have just a small notch in the upper lip. Others have a larger opening or hole in the lip that goes through the lip and up into the nose. A cleft lip can happen on one or both sides of a baby’s lip. Having a cleft in the middle of the lip is rare. A cleft palate can affect the soft palate (the soft tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth) or the hard palate (the bony front part of the roof of the mouth). In some babies with cleft palate, both the front and back parts of the palate are open. In other babies, only part of the palate is open. What causes cleft lip and cleft palate?We don’t know for sure what causes cleft lip and palate. They may be caused by a combination of things, like genes and things in your environment, like what you eat or drink and medicines you take. Genes are parts of your body’s cells that store instructions for the way your body grows and works. Genes are passed from parents to children. These things may increase your chances of having a baby with cleft lip or palate:
What can you do to help prevent cleft lip and cleft palate in your baby?You can’t always prevent cleft lip and cleft palate in your baby. But there are things you can do to help reduce your baby’s chances of having these birth defects:
How are cleft lip and cleft palate diagnosed?Most babies are diagnosed with cleft lip or cleft palate after birth. Some babies with certain types of cleft palate may not be diagnosed until later in life. But during pregnancy, your provider may see your baby’s cleft lip or palate in an ultrasound. Ultrasound is a prenatal test that uses sound waves and a computer screen to show a picture of your baby inside the womb. What problems can cleft lip and cleft palate cause for your baby?Babies and children with cleft lip or cleft palate may have:
If your baby has either, or both of these conditions, it may be more difficult to breastfeed. Babies with a cleft lip may need some extra time to get started with breastfeeding. Babies with a cleft palate have more trouble sucking and swallowing so they most likely can’t feed from the breast. However, you can still feed your baby pumped breast milk from a bottle. Your baby’s provider can also help start good breastfeeding habits after your baby is born. There are special bottles that make feeding a baby with cleft palate breast milk from a bottle easier. Your provider may also recommend a lactation consultant and other breastfeeding tips for babies with cleft lip and cleft palate. A lactation consultant is a person that has special training to help women breastfeed. You can find a lactation consultant through your health care provider or your hospital. How are cleft lip and cleft palate treated?In most cases, your baby can have surgery to repair oral clefts. Each baby is different, but it’s usually best if a baby has surgery for cleft lip before they’re 1 year old and surgery for cleft palate by the time they’re 18 months old. Surgery can help improve the look of a child’s face, and it may help with breathing, hearing and speech and language development. Many children need more surgeries for oral clefts as they grow. They also may need care from several providers, like dentists, doctors, speech therapists and surgeons who specialize in taking care of babies with problems caused by cleft lip and palate. With treatment, most children with clefts do well and lead a healthy life. Providers can help babies born with birth defects like cleft lip or palate get the care they need as they grow up and over the course of their life. More information American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Last reviewed March 2022 Which function is compromised in a newborn with cleft lips?Difficulty feeding.
One of the most immediate concerns after birth is feeding. While most babies with cleft lip can breast-feed, a cleft palate may make sucking difficult.
What is compromised in cleft lip?Cleft lip and palate result from the incomplete closure of the upper lip and roof of the mouth. This causes a gap or defect to occur in the affected area, involving skin, muscle and the lining of the mouth. There is often an associated deformity of the nose on the affected side.
What complications come with a cleft lip?Beyond the cosmetic abnormality, other possible complications that may be associated with cleft lip and cleft palate include:. Feeding difficulties. Feeding difficulties occur more with cleft palate abnormalities. ... . Ear infections and hearing loss. ... . Speech and language delay. ... . Dental problems.. What causes cleft lip in newborns?A cleft lip or palate happens when the structures that form the upper lip or palate fail to join together when a baby is developing in the womb. The exact reason why this happens to some babies is often unclear. It's very unlikely to have been caused by anything you did or did not do during pregnancy.
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