A Cleft Lip is when the upper lip does not close or form all the way during fetal development. It happens very early in the pregnancy around 4-6 weeks, when the folds of the face come together. It occurs in aprox 1 in 700 U S births and most often affects boys.
A Cleft Palate is when the hard Palate or roof of the mouth does not close or form all the way during fetal development when the face and head close or come together. Cleft Palate can occur with a cleft lip or on its own as they are 2 seperate conditions. It happens aprox 6-8 weeks gestation. Cleft Palate can also include the soft palate and the soft palate can be cleft on its own with no other clefts.
The cause of Isolated Cleft lip and or Palate is not fully known. It can be due to genes. It can also be caused by environmental factors (Smoking, drug use, and other non ingested and unknown environmental causes). Most Cleft conditions are isolated which means they occur alone or with no other syndromes or birth defects. The condition can also occur with other syndromes or Birth defects. A baby born with an isolated Cleft condition is "normal" in every way that any other child is (aside from the lip and palate) and have no difference in brain function than that of children with out birth defects.
We do not know why our son was born with this condition. Most families (including mine) with a child born with this condition did "EVERYTHING RIGHT" during their pregnancy and it still occurs.
Feeding is the most dificult part of caring for a baby with a Cleft lip. they need special bottles to assist in suction because with out a hard Palate the baby can not form suction or "suck" a bottle.
Babies/children with Cleft Lip and Palate will need at least 2-3 surgeries between the ages of 3-18 months and several more over the course of their lives.
Babies born with just a cleft lip can often breast feed but it can be hard on the baby to form suction and stimulate the breast enough to keep a full supply. Babies born with a cleft in the hard palate can not form a suction. Even though many moms want to breast feed so desperately, it is best when the hard palate is cleft, to pump with a hospital grade pump and feed the baby with a specially designed cleft bottle or nipple. Many moms have tried and failed to breast feed a baby with a cleft condition and the baby ends up frustrated and underweight. Please see our page on feeding for more info.
For more information see one of the websites I have listed below or check out the March of Dimes website they have done extensive research on this condition.
Contact us for our "Surviving Cleft" Brochure and more information about your child's cleft condition.
