Cleft Lip In Babies – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Does your baby suffer from a cleft lip? Are you looking for some information about his condition? If you said yes, then look no further. Scroll down to learn about cleft lip in babies, its causes, and treatments.
What Is A Cleft Lip In Babies?
A baby cleft lip is a rather common birth defect. At times, when lips begin to form during the early weeks of pregnancy, the tissues around the mouth may not join properly. If this problem occurs, it causes a gap or cleft in the lip area. The cleft can develop on one or both sides of the lips. A cleft in the center of the lip is rare [1].
Babies with cleft lips may or may not develop a cleft palate as well. An opening in the palate (the roof of the mouth) is called a cleft palate. Cleft palates can also occur with or without cleft lips. Such facial birth defects are known as orofacial clefts [2].
[ Read: Genetic Disorders In Babies ]
What Causes Cleft Lip In Babies?
The exact cause of baby cleft lips remains unclear. But, scientists believe that cleft lip occurs due to genetic and various environmental or external factors [3]. Here we look at some probable causes of the condition.
1. Hereditary Factors:
- Although the exact cause of cleft lip remains unclear, according to scientific research, genes play a vital role.
- Chances of clefts in babies increase if there is a family history of cleft lips or palates.
- Parents without any history of clefts can also transfer certain genes to their offspring that may result in cleft lips [4].
2. Environmental Factors:
Other factors that may contribute to a cleft lip or cleft palate in babies include:
- Defects.
- Alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy can also lead to cleft lips in babies.
- Women with diabetes are at a high risk of having babies with cleft lips.
- Some medicines increase the risk of clefts in babies. For instance, medication for cancer and arthritis such as methotrexate, for acne such as isotretinoin and anti-seizure pills containing valproic acid.
- Obesity in pregnant women is also a risk factor for clefts in babies [5].
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Symptoms Of Cleft Lips In Babies:
The symptoms of cleft lip, unlike the cleft palate, are easily recognizable. They often show up as:
- A tiny gap or split in the upper lip
- A wide split that extends to the palate or the nose [6]
Diagnosing Cleft Lip In Babies:
Your doctor can easily diagnose the symptoms of a cleft lip in your baby upon birth. Many a time, it is also possible to see cleft lips in fetuses during your routine ultrasound after the first trimester. It is, however, not easy to diagnose a cleft palate during prenatal ultrasounds [7].
Complications Of Cleft Lip In Babies:
Depending on the severity of the cleft lip, your child may face certain problems. Along with the following complications, babies with cleft lip and palate may also suffer from increased risk of ear infections. Here are some other complications that may occur:
1. Feeding Issues:
Your child may not be able to feed properly due to his cleft lip. Difficulty in feeding is common among babies who are born with a cleft lip with or a cleft palate. Breastfeeding may pose a problem, but feeding with bottles is easy. Nowadays, bottles that are specially designed for feeding trouble are also available [8].
[ Read: Common Birth Defects in Babies ]
2. Problems in Speech:
Baby with cleft lip may find it difficult to speaking well. They may find it difficult to form words. It may be a bigger problem for babies who also have a cleft palate.
3. Dental Troubles:
If the split is large and extends to the gums, it may impede proper dental growth in babies [9].
Treating Cleft Lip Babies:
Surgery can correct a cleft lip baby. The recommended age for a cleft lip surgery is when your baby is a few months old. Remember that the best time to go for the surgery is before your child is a year old.
The surgery not only improves the appearance of the child born with a cleft but corrects other complications of speech and teeth as well. The treatment plan may include services of various medical experts to take care of different complications. Your child’s doctor may suggest a treatment plan and list of specialists for you to see depending on the severity of your child’s cleft lip.
Here is a breakdown of the treatment steps for cleft lips. Your child may not require all the steps.
- A plastic surgeon performs the surgery for cleft lips under general anesthesia. In most cases, the surgery leaves scars that are not easily noticeable. The complication of the surgery depends on the extent of the cleft and whether your child also has a cleft palate along with his cleft lip.
- There may also be a need for follow-up cleft lip surgeries a few years down the line. The surgery can become complicated if your child has more than one orofacial cleft. Your child may need facial reconstruction surgeries if the clefts are wide.
- Other experts you may need to see can be ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialists, orthodontists, and speech therapists.
- You may also need to see a psychologist or a counselor. Some parents may need expert help to deal with the emotional nature of the condition. If for some reason the cleft surgery of your child is delayed, or additional surgeries are pending, you may need help to prepare your child to deal with the emotional trauma [10].
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Feeding Guide For Babies With A Cleft Lip:
A cleft lip can affect your baby’s feeding pattern. Here are some tips to help your baby feed well:
- You can express your breastmilk and feed it to your child using a soft bottle.
- A child with a cleft lip may swallow extra air while feeding. Induce some extra burping after each feed to prevent any health problems.
- Try different positions and feeding bottles to find the perfect one for your baby [11].
It can be disheartening for you to see your child struggle due to a birth defect. A cleft lip not only hampers your child’s speech, but it also presents many other physiological and psychological problems. Ask your child’s doctor any question about the clefts, the extent of his condition chances of improvements and risks.
[ Read: Down Syndrome In Babies ]
Follow your doctor’s advice about your baby’s feeding and care. Help your child deal with orofacial clefts. Make sure your baby grows into a healthy child and adult with no confidence problems due to his cleft lip.
Have you cared for a child born with birth defects? How did you cope with the emotional aspect of it? Tell us below. Fellow moms would love to hear from you.
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