Cleft lip and cleft palate are facial and oral malformations that occur very early in pregnancy, while the baby is developing inside the mother. Clefting results when there is not enough tissue in the mouth or lip area and the tissue that is available does not join together properly.
CLEFT LIP
- The lip forms between the 4th and 7th weeks of pregnancy.
- As a baby develops during pregnancy, body tissue and special cells from each side of the head grow towards the center of the face and join together to make a face. This forming of tissue forms the facial features, like the lip and mouth.
- A cleft lip happens if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. It results from the failure of the fusion of the frontonasal and maxillary processes. This results in an opening in the upper lip.
- The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose.
- A cleft lip can be on one or both sides (unilateral or bilateral) of the lip or in the middle of the lip, which occurs very rarely.
- Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate.
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| Cleft lip |
CLEFT PALATE
- The roof of the mouth ( palate) is formed between the 6th to 9th weeks of the pregnancy.
- A cleft palate happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of both does not join together completely during the pregnancy.
- For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open. It results from the failure of the fusion of the palatine processes and the nasal septum.
- For the babies, only part of the palate is open.
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| Cleft palate |
OTHER PROBLEM
Children with the cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have a problem with feeding and speaking clearly and can have ear infections. They also might have hearing problems and problems with their teeth. |
| Feeding difficulties in a baby with a cleft lip |
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