There is a high risk for developing respiratory viral infections among these children. Craniofacial team Most of this center s patients have a history of cleft lip or cleft palate, and sometimes both. Cleft lip and palate occur during the first two months of gestation. A cleft lip does not completely fuse together, creating an opening or gap. The most common cleft lip is of the upper lip, between the nose and mouth.
Cleft palate occurs when there is an opening in the roof of the mouth.
Either of these problems can make it quite difficult for the child to drink when bottle-fed and parents often have to be taught how to feed their child. The team also sees many children with abnormal ear shapes, or children whose outer ears are not completely formed. In addition, they see a large population of babies born with abnormally shaped heads. Most babies heads aren t quite the right shape at birth, but correct themselves as the babies grow. In some babies, the sutures in their skulls close too early, which restricts the growth of the head.