How can I prevent my baby from having a cleft lip?

What can you do to help prevent cleft lip and cleft palate in your baby?

1. Take folic acid.
2. Don’t smoke or drink alcohol.
3. Get a preconception checkup.
4. Get to a healthy weight before pregnancy and talk to your provider about gaining a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.

How do you control cleft lip and palate?

Children with a cleft lip or palate will need several treatments and assessments as they grow up. A cleft is usually treated with surgery. Other treatments, such as speech therapy and dental care, may also be needed. Your child will be cared for by a specialist cleft team at an NHS cleft centre.

What causes a baby to be born with a cleft lip?

Causes and Risk Factors Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications she uses during pregnancy.

At what age should cleft palate be repaired?

Cleft Palate Repair A cleft palate usually is repaired with surgery called palatoplasty (PAL-eh-tuh-plass-tee) when the baby is 10–12 months old. The goals of palatoplasty are to: Close the opening between the nose and mouth. Help create a palate that works well for speech.

What to do if you have cleft lip and cleft palate?

While many cases of cleft lip and cleft palate can’t be prevented, consider these steps to increase your understanding or lower your risk: Consider genetic counseling. If you have a family history of cleft lip and cleft palate, tell your doctor before you become pregnant.

What causes a child to have a cleft palate?

If the tissue that makes up the lips does not join properly than cleft lip happens. Children with cleft lips also having a chance of cleft palate. Cleft palate happens when the tissues which are used to make up the roof of the mouth does not join together properly during pregnancy.

What is the difference between a cleft palate and a gum line?

A cleft results when the tissues do not join together properly. A cleft lip is a physical separation of the two sides of the upper lip, and appears as a narrow or wide opening or gap in all layers of the upper lip. This separation can include the gum line or the palate. A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth.

What are the risks of having a baby with a cleft lip?

Several factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate, including: Family history. Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft.

Is it possible to have cleft lip and cleft palate?

CDC continues to study birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, and how to prevent them. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor about ways to increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

How does folic acid help prevent cleft lip and palate?

“We already know that folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects, including spina bifida. Our research suggests that folic acid also helps prevent facial clefts, another common birth defect.” In the United States, about one in every 750 babies is born with cleft lip and/or palate.

Several factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate, including: Family history. Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft.

Can a child with a cleft lip get an ear infection?

Babies with cleft lip or palate are more likely to occur ear infection because they can have a problem in their eustachian tube too. To get prevention from this, a special tube will be placed in the eardrums for drainage of fluid. 3. Speech Problem A child with a cleft lip or palate can have trouble in speaking.