Things To know Before Cleft Lip Repair Surgery

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Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s  lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these  birth defects commonly are called “orofacial clefts”. 

A cleft lip is a physical separation of the two sides of the upper lip,  and appears as a narrow or wide opening or gap in all layers of the  upper lip. This separation can include the gum line or the palate. 

A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft  palate can involve the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof  of the mouth) and/or the soft palate (the soft back portion of the roof  of the mouth), and can be associated with a cleft lip. 

We don’t know for sure what causes cleft lip  and palate. They may be caused by a combination of things, like  genes and things in your environment, like what you eat or drink and  medicines you take. Genes are parts of your body’s cells that store  instructions for the way your body grows and works. Genes are passed  from parents to children.

Several factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate, including:

 Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft . 

Cleft lip and cleft palate may be more likely to occur in pregnant women  who smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or take certain medications. 

There is some evidence that women diagnosed with diabetes before  pregnancy may have an increased risk of having a baby with a cleft lip  with or without a cleft palate 

There is some evidence that babies born to obese women may have increased risk of cleft lip and palate. .