cLEfT’s Fix This! Cleft Lip and/or Palate is a birth defect that can be detected while a baby is still in the womb. Why does this happen? The CDC has reported on important findings from research studies about some factors that increase the chance of having a baby with an orofacial cleft:
1. Smoking during pregnancy
2. Diabetes―Women with diabetes diagnosed before pregnancy have an increased risk of having a child with a cleft lip with or without cleft palate and
3. Use of certain medicines
Always consult with your obstetrician if you feel your bae bae is at a higher risk of this birth defect. Make sure to get your 20 week ultrasound, because the sooner this could be detected, the sooner you can take a constructive approach which would consist of educating yourself about this birth defect and per the Craniofacial Association recommends treatment and services by a Cleft and Cratioteam. Cleft and craniofacial teams provide a coordinated approach to care for children with orofacial clefts. These teams usually consist of experienced and qualified physicians and health care providers from different specialties that in almost all cases will need surgical intervention. The best thing you can do as a parent is use this time to find a Cleft and Cranioteam that you feel the most comfortable with. Shop around!