What is a cleft lip or palate?
A cleft lip and palate is a gap between the upper lip and the mouth that forms during fetal development. Treatment may include surgery, speech therapy, and dental procedures.
During pregnancy, the lip forms between 4 and 7 weeks. Tissues from both sides of the face fuse to form the lip and mouth. In the case of a cleft lip, these tissues do not fuse completely. The palate forms between 6 and 9 weeks of pregnancy.
In a large percentage of clinical cases, the cause of a cleft lip or palate is unknown, so there is no way to prevent it. Many scientists believe that both genetic and environmental factors are responsible for these congenital conditions. There is a high chance that a newborn will have a cleft palate if one of the parents, sisters, brothers or other relatives has this diagnosis. The risk of a cleft lip is also expected if the pregnant woman takes certain medications.
Keep in mind that due to a cleft palate, a little person may experience feeding problems (when breastfeeding or bottle-feeding). They also often have fluid in the middle ear and dental problems.
Dear parents, with the achievements of modern medicine, all these issues can be resolved - your pediatrician will advise you on the time frame for effective plastic surgery and whether it is necessary to involve a doctor of another profile.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10947-cleft-lip-cleft-palate
