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Index
What is a cleft?Early in pregnancy at about 6-8 weeks, the usual fusing, or joining up of tissues of the lip and/or palate does not occur, leaving an opening or "cleft". A cleft sometimes occurs in part of the lip, or in the soft palate, or may affect the baby's nostril, the lip, the hard palate (gum and tooth area) and the soft palate. It can occur on one side of the lip/palate (called a uni-lateral) or on both sides (bi-lateral). Do Many Babies Have Clefts?Clefts are one of the more common congenital conditions, affecting one in 600-700 babies. Why Did It Happen?In about one third of families there is a relative also born with a cleft. For the remainder there is no family history. It is important to realise that clefts are not caused by feelings or actions of one or both parents, and research has shown that there is no one, simple reason. What Treatment Will Our Baby Need?Your baby's lip will be surgically closed at about 2-3 months of age or at 5kg weight and the palate at about 9-12 months. Your baby's surgeon will see him/her regularly as he grows. In the early years other specialists may be involved. Most children will se an orthodontist, some may need help from a speech pathologist, some may need to see an ear/nose/throat specialist. Each cleft is different, and each child's needs are different. After the initial surgery, hospitalisation is kept to a minimum with treatment being mainly check-ups until the teenage years when further treatment may be considered. Will The Treatment Be Covered By Health Insurance?All specialists appointments, surgery and hospitalisation is covered by basic health insurance. CleftPALS successfully lobbied to have our children's orthodontic treatment included in basic health insurance. How Will We Tell Family And Friends?This can be difficult at first for some parents, but in CleftPALS we feel it's important to explain simply and honestly about your baby's cleft as soon as possible, and to have your family and close friends to visit him/her whilst in the maternity hospital. You will probably find that friends and family reactions may vary from those who are very supportive to the occasional one who will need some time to accept this unexpected news. How Will We Explain The Cleft To Our Other Children?If you have other children you will no doubt find that they accept the news more readily than the adults around you. Whatever the age, young children usually understand more than we give them credit for, so simply tell them the facts - 'the baby's lip/palate didn't join while the baby was growing in mummy's tummy and he/she will have an operation when he/she is a little bigger to join it up'. Even a toddler can accept this. Don't allow friends or relative to describe it as a 'sore' lip as young children may unnecessarily worry that the baby is experiencing pain. What Can We Do For Our Baby's Future?Provided that they have the support of a loving family and the correct treatment, children with clefts are able to lead a normal life. Parents can make sure they keep up the appointments with the specialists, set a high standard of dental care at home, encourage them to enjoy the magic of communication and above all love them for the individuals they are. As parents, we recognise that these children have special needs at certain times, as do our other children, but we aim to bring them up with the healthy self-esteem that all children need to cope with the outside world. Is a "Hare-Lip" The Same As A Cleft Lip?The term "hare lip" dates back to medieval times. It was believed a mother gave birth to a baby with a cleft lip because a hare jumped across her path. 'Cleft Lip' is a more meaningful term to describe the condition today. |
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