Springer Nature. Isolated cleft palate is reported to be rarely identified prenatally [6, 9]. A cleft lip may just look like a small opening on the edge of the lip, or it could extend into the nose. Some babies have difficulty breastfeeding (chestfeeding) or taking a bottle because they can't form a good seal around the nipple. WebA standard obstetric ultrasound examination requires only evaluation of the upper lip and is suboptimal for the identification of a range of fetal facial anomalies. The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/13/2022. Every healthcare facility has different processes, but you will likely meet with your obstetrician right after your 20-week scan. cleft What I Learned When My Baby Was Born With a Cleft Lip - Parents doi:10.1016/S0002-9378(96)70230-2, Nyberg DA, Sickler GK, Hegge FN, Kramer DJ, Kropp RJ (1995) Fetal cleft lip with and without cleft palate: US classification and correlation with outcome. There is a slight chance that the fetus won't cooperate, and your ultrasound technician cant get a clear picture of its genitals. Young-Soo Jung. Furthermore, giving the information of burden of treatment and prognosis regarding a possible less-than-ideal outcome depending on the severity is critical to the process of counseling. 2001;20(11):1159-64. Determining that your baby has a cleft lip is the first significant step of this journey, but you may have more questions about your child's overall health after birth and before surgery. 3). Cleft lip and cleft palate are splits, or separations, in the upper lip and mouth that occur while a fetus develops in the uterus. A frank discussion of the cost of care and strategies for obtaining coverage for care can also relieve unspoken anxiety [4]. Discovered cleft palate at 20 Even when a CL is visualized in ultrasonographic examination, it is difficult to determine whether the palate is also involved [9]. Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a common congenital defect that can be either isolated or associated with a wide range of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic syndromes. Improve the appearance of the lip and nose.