Gently clean the cleft after each feeding.
Use water and a cotton swab
. As your child gets older, involve him or her in care decisions.
How long does it take for cleft palate to heal?
normally. Those problems are usually short-term since a cleft lip is usually repaired at four to six months of age and a cleft palate is usually repaired
around 12 months of age
, so feeding problems caused by the cleft should not last longer than this.
How do babies eat after cleft palate surgery?
For a short while after surgery, your child may not eat as well as before surgery.
Give soft, pureed or mashed foods for 3 weeks
. There is a table on the last page that shows specific soft foods that are and are not allowed. Do not give foods that have chunks, lumps or pieces, such as seeds, grains, pulp or skin.
Which is the best time to surgical repair of cleft palate?
When is the right time for cleft palate surgery? Cleft palates are typically repaired
between 8 and 12 months of age
. Clefts of the soft palate can usually be repaired early (8 to 10 months of age). Clefts of the hard and soft palate are best repaired later (10 to 12 months of age).
What do you clean cleft lip with?
Wash the area daily with
plain, warm water, and pat it dry
. Other cleaning products, such as hydrogen peroxide, can make the wound heal more slowly. Do not use antibiotic ointments on the incision unless your doctor has told you to. Keep the area clean and dry.
Why are cleft palates bad?
Children with a cleft lip or a cleft palate, depending on the size of the openings, may have
problems eating and breathing
. As they grow older, they may also have speech and language delays. Children with cleft lip or palate are also more likely to have ear infections, hearing loss, and problems with their teeth.
How successful is cleft palate surgery?
Most kids with cleft lip and palate are
treated successfully with no lasting problems
. A team experienced in treating children with cleft lip and palate can create a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs. The psychologists and social workers on the treatment team are there for you and your child.
What is the main cause of cleft palate?
Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by
a combination of genes and other factors
, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications she uses during pregnancy.
What happens if cleft palate is not treated?
Children with cleft palate are at increased risk of ear infections since they are more prone to fluid build-up in the middle ear. If left untreated, ear infections can
cause hearing loss
.
What are the long term effects of cleft palate?
Cleft palate alone was associated with
elevated risks for death
(hazard ratio, 3.4), intellectual disability (relative risk, 11.5), anxiety disorders (RR, 2.9), autism spectrum disorders (RR, 6.6), severe learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and musculoskeletal disorders, when compared with the unaffected …
How many surgeries does it take to fix a cleft palate?
A minimum of one surgery
is required to repair a cleft palate. The requirement for further surgeries depends on the patient’s progress. A separate surgery will be used to repair the lip; additional surgeries may be needed to make the lip appear normal or improve speech.
How do they fix cleft palate?
The only way to repair a cleft palate is
by surgery
. The goal is to close the opening in the roof of the child’s mouth. Your child will be in the operating room for only a few hours. The hospital stay is usually 1 to 3 days.
Why do they remove cleft lips at 3 months?
Given these developments, we question whether a delay in repair until 3–6 months of age is still necessary. Early cleft lip repair may provide additional benefits such as
improved appearance of surgical scars
, accelerated weight gain from ease of feeding, and heightened maternal-infant socialization.
Can a cleft lip heal itself in the womb?
In utero cleft palate repair is technically
feasible and results in scarless healing
of the mucoperiosteum and velum. The present work represents the first in utero repair of a congenital cleft palate model in any species.
How can I prevent my baby from having a cleft lip?
- Take folic acid. …
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol. …
- Get a preconception checkup. …
- Get to a healthy weight before pregnancy and talk to your provider about gaining a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.
How much does a cleft lip surgery cost?
Typical costs: Without health insurance, cleft lip and/or palate surgery typically costs
$5,000 to $10,000 or more per surgery
; if the child has both a cleft lip and a cleft palate, two surgeries typically are required for a total of $10,000 to $20,000.
