Cleft lip and palate- What is it?

• ‘Cleft’ means a ‘Gap’
• It is a slit( gap) in the upper lip or the palate( the region at the upper part of mouth).
• These defects cause a problem as the baby is not able to form a complete seal at the breast as hence not able to suckle

RISK FACTORS FOR CLEFT defect

• Family history of cleft lips and palates
• Smoking/ Alcohol during pregnancy
• Obesity
• Deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy

EFFECTS of Cleft

• Physical defect- cosmetic concerns
• Feeding Difficulty
• Increased chance of ear infections
• Speech development problems
• Dental health problems

TREATMENT/ MANAGEMENT

• You baby with cleft needs to be seen at birth as they may find it difficult to feed.
• Generally, small defects are managed with Large Bore nipple teats
• Sometimes at a hospital, the doctor may or pass a tube from mouth to stomach of the baby (to bypass the defect)

• Generally, surgery to correct a cleft lip will be carried out during the first 3 months of the baby’s life and surgery to correct a cleft palate will be carried out at a later stage (around 6 months of age).

The baby must be tested for their hearing and speech at birth and after the correction procedure.