Cleft Lip :
A cleft lip refers to a birth defect and is characterized by the failure of fusion of the upper lip of the fetus during pregnancy. This congenital abnormality creates an opening in the upper lip of the baby. The risk factors associated with cleft lip include taking certain medications by the mother during pregnancy, such as anti-seizure drugs, methotrexate, and acne treatment medicines containing Accutane, certain conditions in the mother, such as folic acid deficiency, obesity, smoking, having a substance use disorder, and exposure to certain chemicals or viruses during pregnancy. To diagnose this condition, a prenatal ultrasound is conducted before giving birth to the baby. A cleft lip is repaired by performing surgical procedures starting from the third month after the baby is born. These techniques to treat cleft lip include lip taping regimen to narrow the gap in the child's cleft lip, nasal elevator to form the baby's nose into a more natural shape and nasal alveolar molding.


