Birth Defect: Cleft Lip/Palate

Researchers believe that it is a combination of both genetic and environmental factors that cause cleft lip and cleft palate. This clefting can occur due to an inherit gene from one of the parents and then an environmental factor triggers the cleft to happen.

Common birth defects include cleft lip and cleft palate. More than 5,000 infants every year in the United States are born with either cleft lip or cleft palate.

A cleft is an opening that occurs in the lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or even both. When in the womb every baby has this cleft when it is forming, but the structures are suppose to fuse together during the first 3 months of gestation. In babies born with cleft lip or cleft palate, for some reason it only partially fuses or doesn't fuse at all.

Cleft lip can occur on one or on both sides of the upper lip. These defects can be associated with some 300 other genetic birth defects.

Cleft lip is correctable with surgery. The surgery will leave minimal scarring.

Symptoms:

The physical signs of a cleft lip can be detected immediately at birth.

The cleft may be a small notch or it can extend from the lip through the upper gum and palate.

It is less common for the cleft to happen in the muscles of the soft palate only (submucous cleft). When this happens it can sometimes not be noticed right away.

Causes:

Researchers believe that it is a combination of both genetic and environmental factors that cause cleft lip and cleft palate. This clefting can occur due to an inherit gene from one of the parents and then an environmental factor triggers the cleft to happen.

Environmental factors may include fetal exposure to cigarette smoke, alcohol, certain medications, illicit drugs and even certain viruses. Nutritional deficiencies in the mother before or during pregnancy may also lead to the formation of clefts.

Alcohol Birth Defects Birth Defects and the Fight to Prevent Them There is much that can be done to help prevent birth defects. No one likes to see babies suffer or die from birth defects that could have been prevented. Education is one key to helping moms prepare before becoming pregnant and also to do what ever is necessary during pregnancy to have a healthy baby. There are many books, Websites and organizations available to help moms and moms-to-be to prepare for a healthy baby free of birth defects.

Risks:

Family history of cleft lip or cleft palate

Native American, Latino and also Asian descent are all backgrounds with higher risks for clefts

Males are twice as likely to have clefts than females

Environmental factors such as exposure to cigarette smoke in early fetal development, exposure to alcohol and illicit drugs puts an unborn baby at risk

Seeking Medical Attention:

The cleft lip and cleft palate are usually physically identified at birth, and the doctor will immediately start the treatment.

A submucous cleft palate is usually hidden and may not be noticed right away. If a baby has difficulty feeding, including nasal regurgitation and excessive gassiness, the parents should seek medical attention to discover the cause as it may be submucous cleft palate.

Speech delays and a nasal-sounding voice as well as increased nasal discharge may also be symptoms of a submucous cleft palate that should have medical attention.

Today's News About Birth Defects

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12/05/2008
Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells May Offer Novel Therapeutic Option For Skin Disorder (BioresearchOnline)
Stem cells derived from bone marrow may serve as a novel therapeutic option to treat a disease called epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a disorder characterized by extraordinarily fragile skin, according to a study prepublished online in Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology.

Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells May Offer Novel Therapeutic Option For Skin Disorder (BioresearchOnline)

12/01/2008
Using cosmetics during pregnancy 'increase birth defect risk' (New Kerala)
Melbourne, Dec 1 : Pregnant woman have been warned against the use of cosmetics, for they could lead to birth defects.

Using cosmetics during pregnancy 'increase birth defect risk' (New Kerala)

12/03/2008
Surgery bill too costly for them (The New Straits Times)
GEORGE TOWN: Month-old Cheah Zong Ting had an urgent operation recently to correct a heart-related birth defect.

Surgery bill too costly for them (The New Straits Times)

12/02/2008
Aviator uses feet to fly (KVOA Tucson)
Flying through a crisp blue sky in San Manuel is an plane piloted by a 25-year-old woman without arms. Jessica Cox has a congenital birth defect. She doesn't have arms so she uses her feet to do almost everything including fly a plane.

Aviator uses feet to fly (KVOA Tucson)

12/01/2008
Fertility treatments linked to birth defects (Daily Vidette)
A recent study has shown that children born from Assisted Reproductive Technology may be at a greater risk of birth defects than children conceived naturally. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found certain birth defects were two to four times more likely among infants born with the help of fertility treatments than those not.

Fertility treatments linked to birth defects (Daily Vidette)

12/05/2008
Blood drive has special meaning for teacher (Santa Maria Times)
As the first anniversary of her infant daughter’s death approached, Dunlap School teacher Kelly Sanders found herself searching for a way to channel her grief into something positive.

Blood drive has special meaning for teacher (Santa Maria Times)