Cleft Lip has a cure, don't Marr your child's future

Cleft Lip and cleft palate are splits or openings in a baby's upper Lid or roof of the mouth that occurs while a fetus develops in the uterus. They're congenital abnormalities. Cleft Lips and Cleft Palates happen when the tissues of the upper lip and roof of the mouth fails to join together properly during fetal development. These birth defects are commonly called OROFACIAL CLEFTS.

CLEFT LIP
The lip forms between the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy. Tissues from each side of our head join together at the center of the face to make our lips and mouth. A Cleft Lip happens if the tissue that makes up the Lid does not join completely before birth. This results in an opening in the upper lip. The cleft can range from a small indentation to a large gap that reaches the nose. It can be on one or both sides of the Lip or in the middle of the Lip which occurs very rarely.

CLEFT PALATE
The roof of the mouth(palate) forms between six and nine weeks of pregnancy. A Cleft palate happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. A Cleft palate can include the hard palate i.e the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth or the soft palate I.e the Soft back portion of the roof of the mouth

Children with cleft lip or cleft palate often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly. About 1 in every 1,600 babies is born with cleft lip and palate. Cleft Lips are more common in boy babies while cleft palate is more common in Girl babies.

Symptoms of Cleft lip and palate.
Cleft lip and cleft palate can be detected at birth. There are Various Signs and symptoms used to identify a baby with cleft lip or palate. They include:

1. Difficulty with Feeding
2. Having Difficulty with speaking clearly.
3. Difficulty in Swallowing
4. The upper gum, and tooth development may be affected.

Causes of Cleft Lip and Palate
It is believed that clefts are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.There is also a Greater chance of a newborn having a cleft if a sibling or parent had a cleft lip or palate. Other factors that can contribute to the development of a cleft includes:

1. Lack of Vitamin
2. A pregnant mother smoking or use of Tobacco.
3. A pregnant mother taking certain strong medications to either terminate the life of the baby or Taking self medications during pregnancy.

**Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate

Surgeries are conducted by surgeons who specializes in cleft repair, to repair the defect and therapies to improve any relates conditions.
When Children with OROFACIAL cleft are treated, the essence is to improve the child's Ability to eat, speak and hear normally and also to achieve a normal facial Appearance.