AboutSangeeta Bhagwat Expertise I can give support to caregivers and patients, on how to cope with chronic disease and provide assistance in searching the internet, for effective management of specific disease and conditions. I am a Listed EFT Practitioner. If requested, appropriate alternative and complementary treatments will be suggested.
Experience I have had over 13 years experience as a Caregiver for patients with chronic diseases like hypertension,asthma, heart disease and chronic renal failure. I have also counseled many patients and caregivers, in person and over the net.
Publications I have written 2 books: "It's Your Life - A Practical Handbook for Chronic Ailments" and "The Caregiver's Manual". Both these books are available for free reading or download, at http://www.soulspeakindia.com
Question Hello, I have an Heir Lip and Cleft Palate and am currently 12 weeks pregnant and am confused over wether this is hereditary or not. I am desperate for the information and would like information on Surgery in Utero in the UK and any tests I can have at this point in my pregnancy to find out wether my child has this affliction. Many thanks. This is very important to me.
Answer Hello Emma,
While I have provided extracts from the sites given below, in order to briefly answer your queries, I recommend that you visit each link below for further information.
"Genetic Factors
* If both parents are unaffected, but have one child with a cleft, the chance of the second child being similarly affected is 2-8%.
* If one or other parent has a cleft, the risk of a cleft in a child is 4-6% with each pregnancy.
* If the cleft is not associated with a syndrome, there is an associated gene; Interferon Regulatory Factor 6 gene variants can confer a risk for isolated cleft lip and palate. This can be identified in approximately 15% of patients.7
Recent genetic studies on human populations have demonstrated that non-syndromic clefting has distinct genetic backgrounds which may then be revealed by environmental factors. Several loci (1 to 10) have been identified.8"
"Antenatal Diagnosis of cleft lip and/or palate
...
Most scans only ever pick up the presence of a cleft lip and sometimes cleft gum. A scan cannot reliably identify a cleft palate, either when associated with a cleft lip or on its own. "
A cleft lip is usually repaired surgically at around the age of three months. A cleft palate is usually repaired surgically between six and 15 months.
If a baby is having feeding problems before surgery is possible, a plate may be fitted into the roof of the mouth. Special feeding teats are also available.
As the child grows up, speech therapy may be necessary.
Advice and support
Cleft Lip & Palate Association
Tel: 020 7833 4883
Email: info@clapa.com
Website: www.clapa.com
