What cleft palate means?
What is Cleft Palate? The roof of the mouth (palate) is formed between the sixth and ninth weeks of pregnancy. A cleft palate happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open.
Why do babies have cleft lip?
A cleft lip or palate happens when the structures that form the upper lip or palate fail to join together when a baby is developing in the womb. The exact reason why this happens to some babies is often unclear. It’s very unlikely to have been caused by anything you did or did not do during pregnancy.
Why is cleft palate bad?
Children with a cleft lip or a cleft palate, depending on the size of the openings, may have problems eating and breathing. As they grow older, they may also have speech and language delays. Children with cleft lip or palate are also more likely to have ear infections, hearing loss, and problems with their teeth.
Can you see cleft lip at 12 week scan?
This case demonstrates and emphasizes that early and accurate diagnosis of cleft lip and palate in the first trimester, as early as 12 weeks’ gestation, is a real possibility. It should be attempted at the time of ultrasound for first-trimester screening.
Does cleft palate cause breathing problems?
A child with a cleft palate can sometimes have other health problems, such as: trouble breathing. frequent ear infections. trouble feeding.
Where does the cleft palate start and end?
If the cleft does not affect the palate structure of the mouth, it is referred to as cleft lip. Cleft lip is formed in the top of the lip as either a small gap or an indentation in the lip (partial or incomplete cleft), or it continues into the nose (complete cleft).
Is there a way to prevent a cleft palate?
A cleft palate can be challenging for both parents and children, but corrective surgery and other interventions are now widely available. There is no way to prevent a cleft palate, but avoiding alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy can reduce the risk of a cleft and other problems.
What are the risks of having a child with a cleft palate?
In general, the risks of giving birth to a child with a cleft palate are highest when both parents have clefts themselves. If only one parent has a cleft palate, the risk of having a baby with a cleft palate is 1 in 20 (5%).
Who are the members of the cleft lip and palate team?
Due to the number of oral health and medical problems associated with a cleft lip or cleft palate, a team of doctors and other specialists is usually involved in the care of these children. Members of a cleft lip and palate team typically include:
