In Indonesia, 1 in 300 babies who are born normally suffer from cleft lip. Every year, cleft lip disorders in Indonesia reach 7,000 cases. No wonder the abnormalities that appear in this baby are a concern for parents who are expecting a baby. For those of you who are waiting for the birth of your beloved baby, let's see what you need to know about cleft lips in children.
Cleft lip is a congenital abnormality in the form of a gap in the upper lip. In the fetus, the tissues on the lips and palate should be fused in the second and third months of pregnancy. The failure of these tissues to unite causes the baby's lips to become cleft.
Clefts in children are caused by a combination of several factors, not just one factor. Some of the factors that cause cleft lip are: inappropriate use of contraception, fetal hypoxia which occurs when the fetus does not get enough oxygen supply, use of cosmetics containing mercury, consumption of cigarettes, consumption of drugs without a doctor's prescription during pregnancy, and radiation exposure.
Apart from these factors, there are several things that can increase the risk of a baby being born with a cleft, including:
- Older people with cleft lip disorders
- Baby gender, birth defects are more common in baby boys than baby girls.
- Diabetic pregnant women
- Obesity during pregnancy
- Consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, corticosteroid tablets, and anti-seizure drugs during pregnancy
- Deficiency of folic acid
As a parent, you need to know that cleft lip disorders in babies can cause complications in their growth. The abnormal condition of the baby's lips and palate can cause a buildup of fluid and infection in the ear. As a result, children can experience hearing loss. Cleft lips also make it difficult for babies to suck milk. In addition, if the condition of the child's cleft lip is left until they reach the age of speaking, the child will have difficulty communicating.
To treat cleft lip in children, doctors and hospitals can perform surgical operations. Cleft lip surgery is performed not only to improve facial appearance, but also to help children eat, drink, speak and hear better.
Surgical operations for babies with cleft lip disorders are commonly called surgical closures. This surgical method is included in the category of plastic surgery. The operation is performed by moving tissue along with a number of major blood vessels from one part of the body to another. This operation is similar to the skin graft technique. However, closing surgery has a greater chance of success because the blood supply is provided directly by new tissue that is transferred to the damaged part of the body, in this case, the baby's cleft lip. With this method, cleft lip in children can be treated more easily and effectively.
To be able to go through the surgical procedure there are several conditions that need to be met. The baby to be operated on must be over 3 months old. In addition, the baby must weigh more than 5 kg and hemoglobin more than 10 g%. At EMC, examination of this condition can be done by consulting a pediatrician and plastic surgeon first so that the operation runs smoothly and there are no postoperative risks.
After a successful operation, it takes commitment from you as a parent to help the baby's recovery process. The operation only helps restore the baby's physical condition. It takes effort from parents to help babies practice coordinating their mouth muscles when eating, drinking, and also speaking. Babies who have just had surgery also need more love than their parents during the postoperative recovery period. For this reason, the presence of parents who are ready to look after and meet the needs of the baby is needed.
Well, that's all you need to know about cleft lip in infants and children. If you want to know more about closing surgery, the doctors at EMC are ready to provide consultations. Good cooperation between doctors, hospitals, and parents will undoubtedly succeed in providing treatment and even the best prevention methods for birth defects for your beloved baby. #LiveExcellently