Cleft lip and palate
Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for education purposes only.
Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to
make sure this information is right for your child.
Cleft lip and palate affects one baby in about 700 - it is a condition that children are born with. Cleft lips are more common in boys while cleft palates are more common in girls. We do not know what causes cleft lip and palate - in some cases there is a family history, but in most cases the cause is unknown. Your baby's lips began to form at about the 6th week of pregnancy. The palate forms during the seventh to twelfth week. Clefts form because the normal face and mouth structures do not close when they should.
Breastfeeding your cleft lip and palate baby
Babies with clefts usually take a little longer to feed than babies without clefts. If your baby's cleft is not too severe, you may be able to breastfeed. Some parents choose to express breast milk and give it with a bottle. A squeeze bottle and special teat designed for babies with cleft palates are available. It is really up to you to choose which method suits your needs (see Feeding your baby with a cleft lip and/or palate fact sheet).
Your baby's first admission to hospital
If you live in a country area, and your baby has a complete cleft lip and palate, there is a possibility that your baby may be admitted to hospital when he or she is only a few days old. During this first admission, an orthodontist will decide if your child needs an orthodontic plate - a special plate that fits into the mouth. If your child needs this plate, it will be fitted during this first admission. You may also be introduced to the Speech Pathologist, the Orthodontist, the Plastic Surgeon and the Ear, Nose & Throat specialist - the team who will care for your child.
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Unilateral cleft lip
and palate
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Bilateral cleft lip
and palate
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Cleft palate |
Surgery
Repairing the cleft depends on your baby's general health, and on the cleft itself. Generally, the lip repair is done when the baby is three to five months old; the cleft palate repair is done at about six to ten months of age.
Every child is different and some repairs may be done earlier or later. Your child may need more operations later. These include improving the original lip repair, surgery to upper jaw to help the teeth come through, narrowing of the nose and adjusting the tip of the nose. More surgery to the soft palate may also be needed if your child is having speech problems.
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Unilateral cleft lip repair - Miliard repair
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Unilateral cleft lip repair - Tennison repair
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Bilateral cleft lip repair - Manchester repair |
Hearing
Children with cleft palates have more middle ear problems and this can affect their hearing, so we give all cleft palate children regular hearing tests. Sometimes, it may be necessary to put a tube in the eardrums to drain fluid from the middle ear. This is often done at the time of lip and palate repair.
Speech
The speech pathologist and orthodontist will also be involved in your child's care. Speech pathologists make sure that your child's speech is developing normally, and help with any speech problems. The orthodontist (a special kind of dentist) makes sure your child's teeth grow properly, and teaches you and your child how to care for the mouth and teeth.
Support group
Cleftpals is a national voluntary organisation of parents and professionals who are interested in children born with a cleft condition. They visit new parents, give help with feeding and are there if you "just want to have a chat". Tel: (02) 9294 8944.
- Cleft lip and palate is a condition that children are born with.
- We don't know what causes cleft lip and palate.
- You need to take special care of your child's mouth and teeth.
- Cleftpals is there to support you.
- Your child's ears, nose and throat should be checked regularly.
- Try to treat your cleft lip and palate child as normally as possible.
© The Children's Hospital at Westmead & Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick - 1997-2008.
This document was updated on Monday, 15 March 2004.
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