The Formation of Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate, and the Role of Genetic Counseling
Why does the condition of cleft lip and cleft palate develop in babies? Doctors know the statistics; 1 in 700 babies are born with a cleft lip and or palate. They know how the cleft lip and cleft palate occur in pregnancy; it results from an abnormality in the genes and chromosomes.
The development of cleft lip or cleft palate originates when the shape of the embryo's head starts to take form during the first 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. At this point five primitive tissues lobes should grow. If they do not meet a gap appears where they should have fused together. This can happen in a single joining site or in several sites at once. Birth defects tend to reflect the location as well as the severity of the fusion failures, from a total face deformity to just a small palate crack. The formation of the palate is the final step in joining all five of the embryonic facial lobes. A cleft lip and cleft palate are, in essence, an interruption and incompletion of the natural growing process.
Why cleft lip and cleft palate occur is not clear. Most cases occur in families that have no prior history of the condition, or of any other birth defects. There is a theory that the formation of cleft lip and cleft palate be affected by some toxic substances; like imbalances of nutrients or even environmental pollutants inadvertently inhaled by the mother. Or cleft lip and cleft palate may be caused by gene variations, as well as complications from other syndromes such as Stickler's and Loeys-Dietz. After a baby is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, when he or she grows up and has children, the chances of passing the condition through the genes rises to about 1 in 14.
Can Genetic Counseling Prevent Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate?
How can genetic counseling help in preventing or treating cleft lip or cleft palate problems? Obviously, genetic counseling cannot alter any variation in the genes. Genetic counselors help couples understand the health of each parent and of the baby in order to predict any possible risks. Genetic counselors evaluate family history, medical records, study prenatal tests and provide further information on how parents can deal with the potential issues of a child born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate.
Genetic counselors are highly educated; most have a master's degree in genetic study and hold certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Ideally you should see a genetic counselor before getting pregnant; realistically though, the earlier the better. While 3% of all babies born have birth defects, most of those involving cleft lip and cleft palate are treatable by surgery.
If you have, or expect to have, a child born with cleft lip and cleft palate, don't panic. There are medical procedures that can help families; and there are institutions like The International Craniofacial Institute which have devoted nearly thirty years providing treatment for children with cleft lip and cleft palate. The dedicated surgeons who operate the Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Treatment Center will ensure that you have access to the proper specialists you need.