Cleft Palate and Lip Awareness Month

As I'm learning more and more about this #1 Birth Defect in children, I will share with you. Just thought I would let you all know that this month is Awareness for Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip. Here are a few facts for you to learn to be more knowledgeable on this topic.

Cleft lip/ Palate is the #1 Birth Defect in Children. 1 in 600 children are born with it!

CLP (cleft lip/palate) is both hereditary and caused by environmental factors. You do NOT Have to have someone in your family who has it and just because you do, doesn't mean you are going to have a child with it. Case in fact...I have 2 beautiful children prior to Paige who are not cleft affected (nca). There is a 4-5% chance that ANYONE be born with it.

A "HARE LIP" is an offensive term for CLP. DO NOT USE THIS TERM as it really offends MANY People. If you are using it after reading this, shame on you!

There are many types of CLP. Paige has an unilateral cleft lip and palate. There is also a bilateral cleft lip and palate. This affects both sides of the nose. Paige's is only on the one side.

More boys are affected with cleft palate than girls.

Most children with CLP have their lip surgery from 3-6 months of age. Their palate surgery can take place anytime between 9 and 18 months.

Not all babies who have CLP have speech problems. 99.9% do not have any hearing loss.

CLP develops when the baby is around 6 weeks gestation. This is about the time when most moms find out they are actually pregnant. I knew I was pregnant with Paige at about 3 1/2 weeks gestation because I chart my cycles and can tell easily that I'm pregnant.

70% of babies with cleft lip also have cleft palate!



There's just a few of the facts that I have learned. There are so many more as I learn more and more about this birth defect! Please feel free to share this knowledge!