Cleft palate and cleft lip are two of the most common birth defects today. In the USA alone over 2500 babies are born with a cleft palate and a further 4500 (approximately) with cleft lip.
That is roughly 1 in 600 child births in the United States alone. In some under developed countries the incidence is far higher.
The only way to treat cleft palate and cleft lip is surgically and, unless treated, can and does result in difficulties with feeding, speech development and hearing.
A cleft palate or lip is caused during the early part of pregnancy when the baby’s face is developing. It is in the 6th to 10th week of pregnancy that the bones and tissues of a baby’s face and head – that is the upper jaw, mouth, and nose – fuse together and form the palate (roof of the mouth) and the upper lip.
A cleft palate or a cleft lip occurs when the developing tissue doesn’t fuse together properly.
The risk of cleft palate and cleft lip in all forms or combinations, including unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate, can and is greater for women taking medication for conditions such as stress and seizures. Before being prescribed medication patients should be warned of these potential defects. Likewise pregnant women should advise their doctor of any medication they are on.
Smoking cigarettes, the use of drugs and alcohol further increase the risk of having a child with a cleft palate or cleft lip. Pregnancy is a good time and reason to give up these habits for good.
Even with early surgical intervention and correction cleft palate and lip conditions could have long term and ongoing medical and psychological implications.