Cleft lip and cleft palate are two birth defects that affect the face. Medline Plus notes that 1 in every 2,500 people have a cleft palate, in which the roof of the mouth does not join together during development. In a cleft lip, an opening in the lip may extend into the nose. If you are pregnant, changes in your nutrition can increase the risk for this condition in your child, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nutritional Deficits
If you get inadequate nutrients during pregnancy, your child may have an increased risk of having a cleft lip or cleft palate. In a 2004 study published in the "Journal of Nutrition," Ingrid P. C. Krapels and colleagues compared the nutrition in mothers who had children with a cleft lip or cleft palate and mothers whose children were born without these facial clefts. They found that the mothers who had children with a cleft lip or cleft palate had significantly lower intake of several essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, vitamin C and vitamin E. These mothers also had lower levels of beta-carotene, fiber and vegetable protein. The authors noted that these mothers were not eating enough grains, soy products, dairy products, vegetables and eggs to obtain necessary nutrients during their pregnancies.
Development and Effects
Proper maternal nutrition is important at the beginning of your pregnancy, as cleft lip and cleft palate occur early in fetal development. The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine notes that in the sixth week of development, the upper lip and primary palate form; the secondary palate forms by the seventh week of development. The openings in the lip and palate can cause several problems, including distorted facial features and speech problems. Nutritional concerns can also arise with a cleft lip and palate. If your child has a cleft palate and cleft lip, she may have problems feeding. When breast-feeding or feeding from a bottle, the milk may pass through the child's nasal passages, according to Medline Plus.
Nutrition and Prevention
Just as poor maternal nutrition can increase the risk for cleft lip and cleft palate, proper maternal nutrition may help reduce that risk. The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine notes that taking a prenatal multivitamin can decrease your risk of giving birth to a child with a cleft palate by 25 percent. You can start taking prenatal vitamins while you are planning to become pregnant. Eating a well-rounded diet during pregnancy can also help reduce the risk of cleft lip or cleft palate in your child. For example, consuming more foods that contain magnesium, vitamin C, fiber, iron and vegetable protein can lower your risk of a cleft palate or cleft lip in your child, according to Krapels and colleagues. You may also consider individual vitamins to decrease that risk, such as folic acid. Talk to your doctor about which vitamins you should take while you're pregnant.
Additional Dietary Considerations
If you have had a child with cleft palate or cleft lip and are pregnant again, or if you are worried about cleft lip or cleft palate in your unborn child, you can make other nutritional and lifestyle changes to reduce your risk. For example, the Mayo Clinic notes that obesity slightly increases the risk of cleft lip and cleft palate in your unborn child. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption can also increase the risk. Consider a healthier diet and avoid alcohol and tobacco while you are pregnant.
References
- University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine: Cleft Lip and Palate
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
- Medline Plus: Cleft Lip and Palate
- Science Daily: Folic Acid May Prevent Cleft Lip and Palate
- "Journal of Nutrition": Maternal Nutritional Status and the Risk for Orofacial Cleft Offspring in Humans; Ingrid P.C. Krapels, Iris A.L.M. van Rooij, Marga C. Ocké, Clive E. West, Chantal M.A.M. van der Horst and Régine P.M. Steegers-Theunissen; November 2004
- Mayo Clinic: Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
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