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Mayo Clinic Housecall
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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffAfter a baby is born with a cleft, parents are understandably concerned about the possibility of having another child with the same condition. While many cases of cleft lip and cleft palate can't be prevented, consider these steps to increase your understanding or lower your risk:
- Consider genetic counseling. Your doctor can advise you on what genetic testing may offer, such as how much a family history of clefting increases your risk, as well as how blood or DNA samples can be tested for chromosomal syndromes.
- Take prenatal vitamins. Taking a multivitamin before conceiving and during pregnancy may help prevent cleft lip and cleft palate. If you're planning to get pregnant soon, begin taking a prenatal multivitamin now.
- Don't use tobacco or alcohol. Use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy increases the risk of having a baby with a cleft defect.
References
- Cleft lip and cleft palate. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/14332_1210.asp. Accessed April 5, 2009.
- Moreau JL, et al. Tissue engineering solutions for cleft palates. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2007;65:2503.
- Cleft lip and palate repair. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. www1.plasticsurgery.org/ebusiness4/ProductCatalog/pdf/brochures/Cleft_Lip.pdf. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Mossey PA, et al. Cleft lip and palate. The Lancet. 2009;374:1773.
- Hoffman WY. Cleft Lip & Palate. In: Lalwani AK. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2826340&searchStr=cleft+lip#2826340. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Craniofacial abnormalities. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/see19/ch288/ch288d.html. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Burns JL. Plastic surgery (cleft lip and palate). In: Townsend CM Jr, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/1932697333/978681486/1565/708.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..50077-0--cesec9_4303. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Wilkins-Haug L. Prenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Stothard KJ, et al. Maternal overweight and obesity and the risk of congenital anomalies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2009;301:636.
- The school years: An introduction to psychology. Cleft Lip & Palate Association. http://www.clapa.com/news/article/901/. Accessed April 9, 2010.
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