Cleft lip, also known as harelip or cleft palate, is a birth defect that affects the upper lip and in severe cases, the roof of the mouth.
The exact cause of cleft lip and palate is unknown, but doctors believe it’s likely caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors. If you’re pregnant, it’s important to know that you can reduce your chances of having a baby with a cleft lip or palate by taking folic acid supplements before conception and during pregnancy.
The good news is that cleft lip repairs are usually very successful. Many children grow up with no problems from their clefts, though some may have speech problems or difficulty breathing.
Read on to learn more about How To Treat Cleft Lip, How To Prevent Cleft Lip And Palate During Pregnancy
How To Treat Cleft Lip
Cleft lip and cleft palate are splits, or separations, in the face and mouth of a baby that occur while the baby is developing inside its mother. Cleft lip and/or cleft palate is the fourth most common birth defect in the United States. Complications and treatments are discussed.
Cleft lip is a birth defect where the upper lip fails to fuse together in the womb. The cleft can be on one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral). The severity of this cleft varies from case to case.
The treatment for cleft lip depends on its severity and location. Treatment options include:
Surgery to close the lip and repair other facial deformities associated with the cleft (cleft palate)
Surgery to correct dental problems caused by missing teeth due to the cleft
Skin grafts to cover the scar tissue formed after surgery
Cleft lip is a congenital birth defect that affects the upper lip. In most cases, cleft lip is associated with cleft palate. The defect occurs in newborns during pregnancy, when the lips and palate have not yet fully developed.
The severity of cleft lip varies from minor to severe. If only the inner part of the upper lip is affected, it is called a unilateral cleft lip (or a split upper lip). If both halves of your upper lip are affected, it is called bilateral cleft lip (or a double split upper lip).
Cleft lip repair can be done either immediately after birth or after several months have passed. The timing depends on the severity of your condition and how well you’re able to manage without surgery.
Surgery for Cleft Lip
Cleft lip is a birth defect that occurs when the two sides of a baby’s upper lip do not fuse together properly. Cleft lip often occurs along with cleft palate, but this is not always the case. The severity of cleft lip can vary greatly, from a small notch in the upper lip to a large gap between the two sides of the lip.
Most babies born with cleft lip have no other problems and typically do not need treatment until about age 3 months or older. Treatment for cleft lip may include surgery to repair the defect, speech therapy and orthodontics (braces).
The goal of surgery is to close or reduce the size of any gap between your child’s upper lips and teeth. This will improve their appearance and make it easier for them to eat solid food without choking on it. The earlier your child’s palate is repaired, the better their long-term speech should be.
Cleft lip, also called cleft lip and palate, is a condition that affects the top and bottom of the mouth. It occurs when tissues in a baby’s mouth don’t join together properly during pregnancy. This causes a split in the upper lip, or “cleft,” as well as other facial deformities such as gaps between the nose and upper lip, an underdeveloped lower jawbone and problems with the roof of the mouth (palate).
Cleft lip occurs in about one in every 700 live births. In some cases, it’s a mild deformity that can be corrected with surgery; in others, it may be so severe that surgery is impossible. Some children will need multiple surgeries over time to treat their cleft lip and palate.
The best way to treat cleft lip depends on your child’s specific condition:
Minor clefts at birth can be repaired by surgery soon after birth or within six months of birth. More complex clefts require multiple surgeries over time to repair them completely.
If your child has a minor cleft of just the soft tissue of his or her upper lip at birth, no treatment may be necessary unless there are other complications that affect breathing or feeding
Cleft lip is a birth defect that affects the upper lip. It’s usually caused by a problem with the baby’s facial bones or the tissues that form them. Cleft lip happens in about 1 out of every 700 babies born in the U.S., and it can affect boys and girls equally.
The most common type of cleft lip is called unilateral cleft lip, which means there’s a gap between only one side of the upper lip and nostrils. Unilateral clefts can range from minor to severe and may involve other parts of the face or head as well.
Other types of cleft lips include bilateral (affecting both sides), central (affecting the center), and complete (affecting all areas). These types are rarer than unilateral clefts.
How To Prevent Cleft Lip And Palate During Pregnancy
Cleft lip and palate is a birth defect that occurs when the two sides of the lip or roof of the mouth don’t join together properly. This can result in a gap in the lip and/or roof of the mouth, which may allow food and liquids to enter the nose. Cleft lip and palate affects about one in 700 babies in Canada.
If you’re pregnant and have a family history of cleft lip or palate, your doctor may recommend genetic counselling. This will help you understand your chances of having a child with a congenital deformity. You’ll also learn about any tests available to determine if your child has inherited these disorders from his parents.
There’s no way to prevent cleft lip and palate during pregnancy but there are things you can do to reduce your baby’s risk:
Don’t smoke while you’re pregnant — smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of having an infant with cleft lip or palate by up to 50 per cent compared with babies born to non-smokers.
Don’t drink alcohol while you’re pregnant — drinking alcohol during pregnancy can increase the risk of having an infant with cleft lip or palate by up to 40 per cent compared with babies born
Prenatal testing for cleft lip and palate (CLP) has been available since the early 1980’s. The most common prenatal test is a blood test called an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This test analyzes the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) in the mother’s blood.
The other type of test is amniocentesis, which involves removing some fluid from around the fetus to look at chromosomes. If you are interested in having this type of test done, talk to your doctor about your options. He or she may recommend having another ultrasound instead of amnio, just so that you can see if there are any problems or not.
If you have had a child with CLP in the past or if you have a family history of CLP, then your doctor may suggest another blood test called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta after conception. The presence of hCG indicates that your pregnancy is progressing normally and no abnormalities are present at this time.
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent cleft lip and palate during pregnancy.