Cleft Pallette and Cleft Lip?

Question

What causes this? Is it shown in the sonogram or when the child is born?

Answer 1

There are lots of medical studies looking into the causes of cleft lip and / or cleft palate. There is clearly some genetic component (clefts often run in families), but there appear to be some environmental factors as well such as drugs (including several different antiseizure drugs), infections, maternal illnesses, maternal smoking and alcohol use and, possibly, deficiency of the B vitamin folic acid may be involved. The lip usually closes up in fetal life 5 weeks after conception, and the palate usually closes by 10 weeks, so this occures very early in pregnancy.

Both cleft lip and cleft palate can be seen by a sonogram sometimes. Sonogram resolution often varies between machines, so sometimes these are missed, even with a good ultrasound, until the baby is born.

Here is a great website where you can learn more about this condition:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1210.asp

Good Luck!

Answer 2

There are several different causes of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate. They can be seen on a sonogram. Should the technician feel that a baby will have a cleft lip and cleft palate they will usually look to see if there are any further complications with the baby. There are a few genetic conditions that present with Cleft Lip. Most cases however are simply of unknown origin and will be closed shortly after birth. In some instances the baby may present with only a cleft lip, which is better over all. Look online for your local cleft palate group and they should be able to answer any questions that you have.

Answer 3

There are diferent things that can cause it. Sometimes it's genetic and sometimes it's not. My youngest brother was born with a non-genetic cleft palate.

The sonogram may or may not show the deformity. If a cleft lip is present and the sonogram tech can get a good look at the face you will likely be able to tell. In my brother's case, it was the palate only, so not only did it not show in the sonogram, but they didn't know he had the problem until he was several hours old and was having a hard time eating.

Luckily, it is very easy to correct either problem now, and depending on severity they can do it with very little scarring or risk of future complications.

Answer 4

My first baby was born with a cleft palette only, His lip was intact. As far as I know there is no one in either of our families with this condition. I don't think that they really know what causes it. During development the palette stops growing and does not fuse together. It was corrected with surgery when he was 18 months old and for about six years after that he was seen every summer by a team of physicians for evaluation. He was seen by the plastic surgeon, the ENT, the orthodontist, speech therapist, and audiologist. Thankfully he never developed any problems but if he had they would have picked up on it early. Good luck and try not to worry.

Answer 5

Chances are they can detect cleft palette because it is bone versus cleft lip just tissue. but they may not catch either. they are cause when a defect in the DNA stand is present and the two bones that fuse to form the palette don't fuse. It's just one of those things we have no control over.

Answer 6

Yes, they can see a cleft lip in an ultrasound, but I don't think they can see a cleft palate. Folic acid can prevent these conditions, as well as a host of other particularly nasty birth defects (spina bifida, for example).

Answer 7

u can see this w an ultra sound.but maybe not %100 of the time

Answer 8

sorry I don't even know what it is.