Show
KEY POINTS
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 informationAmerican Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Last reviewed: March 2022 What medications cause cleft lip?Anticonvulsants. Certain prescription drugs used to prevent or control seizures cause an increased risk of birth defects including cleft lips and palates, developmental delays, and abnormal organs. Drugs to watch out for: Depakote, Dilantin, Lamictal, and Tegretol.
Which intrauterine medication exposure is associated with a possibility of cleft palate in the newborn?Excess intake of Vitamin A and deficiency of folic acid during first trimester of pregnancy has been linked to development of congenital anomalies like cleft lip/palate.
What drugs cause cleft lip in unborn?Use of certain medicines―Women who used certain medicines to treat epilepsy, such as topiramate or valproic acid, during the first trimester (the first 3 months) of pregnancy have an increased risk of having a baby with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, compared to women who didn't take these medicines.
What causes babies to be born with a cleft lip?Causes of cleft lip and palate
In a few cases, cleft lip and palate is associated with: the genes a child inherits from their parents (although most cases are a one-off) smoking during pregnancy or drinking alcohol during pregnancy. obesity during pregnancy.
|