A type of birth defect, cleft lip and palate affect one in every 700 babies born each year in the United States, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. MedlinePlus adds that one in 2,500 people have a cleft palate, which affects the roof of the mouth. Cleft lip and cleft palate change patients' facial appearance. For example, patients with a unilateral cleft lip can have a gap from the lip under either the left or right nostril that may extend to the nose. Certain issues can cause a cleft lip or palate in a child, which range from a genetic abnormality to exposure to environmental factors during the pregnancy.
Genetics
Some patients may have a cleft lip or palate as a result of an abnormal gene. MayoClinic.com explains that the mother or father passes on the abnormality to the child. The genetic cause of a cleft lip and palate can be an individual gene or part of a syndrome that has clefting of the lip or palate as a symptom. If the cause is an individual gene, that gene may make the person more susceptible to environmental triggers for a cleft lip or cleft palate. Genetic disorders that can cause a cleft lip or cleft palate include Patau syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome and van der Woude syndrome. Patau syndrome, also called Trisomy 13, results from patients having an extra chromosome 13. Both Loeys-Dietz syndrome and van der Woude syndrome involve mutated genes. Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome have mutations of the TGFBR1 or TGFBR2 genes, while patients with van der Woude syndrome have a mutation of the IRF6 gene.
Drug and Toxin Exposure
If a mother uses certain drugs during her pregnancy, her child may have a cleft lip or palate. This includes smoking, drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin while pregnant. The Nemours Foundation points out that pregnant women who drink five or more drinks at one time during the first weeks of their pregnancies have a higher risk of their children having a cleft lip or palate. If the mother becomes exposed to an environmental toxin such as lead, the baby might develop a cleft lip or palate.
Medications
Using certain medications during the pregnancy may cause a cleft lip or palate to form. The Nemours Foundation lists antiepileptic medications, which treat seizures, as a medication that may cause cleft lip or palate in a child if the mother takes them while pregnant. If a woman is worried about the effects her medication might have on her unborn child, she needs to talk to her doctor instead of stopping the medication suddenly.
Nutritional Deficits
If a mother does not have a well-rounded diet while pregnant, her child may develop a cleft lip or palate. The Nemours Foundation notes that not enough folic acid during pregnancy may cause these facial abnormalities. A type of vitamin B, folic acid helps create new cells. Fruits, green leafy vegetables, enriched breads and nuts contain folic acid. MedlinePlus points out that besides causing cleft lip and palate, not getting enough folic acid during pregnancy can lead to brain and spinal cord defects.
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