Cleft Lips Can Be Detected Since The Content, Parents Need To Be Ready Early

Illustration of children who have undergone lip surgery (ANTARA/Shutterstock)

JAKARTA - Congenital disorders such as cleft lip and cleftness of the mouth (labiopalatoschizis) can now be recognized since pregnancy through an ultrasonographic (USG) examination.

With this early detection, parents can prepare various medical treatment steps as soon as the baby is born, in order to optimally support child growth and development.

This was conveyed by a specialist in ears, nose, throat, head and neck surgery, Dr. dr. Trimartani, Subsp. FPR(K), MARS in a webinar in Jakarta. According to him, the antenna care program or routine pregnancy care allows medical personnel to identify abnormalities since the second trimester of pregnancy.

"From the ultrasound, it can be seen if there is a lip formation disorder, and that way we can prepare treatment after the baby is born," he said, as quoted by ANTARA.

This disorder, continued Trimartani, occurs due to disorders in the formation of facial tissue during pregnancy. The factors that cause it can vary, ranging from lack of maternal nutrition intake, anemia, to exposure to certain drugs that have an impact on fetal development.

He added that the condition of the lip is not only related to physical appearance, but can also have a serious impact on the basic function of the body, such as breathing, speech ability, and swallowing processes.

In the same discussion, another THT-BKL Specialist, Dr. dr. Dini Widiarni Widodo, Sp.THTBKL, Subsp. FPR(K), M.Epid, explained the importance of the role of parents in preparing for the baby's treatment which is experiencing a ceiling gap (palatum). This disorder occurs when the roof of the mouth does not blend perfectly, causing a gap that can interfere with the breastfeeding and feeding process.

Babies with nutmeg gaps usually have difficulty breastfeeding normally. Therefore, the use of special milk bottles and breastfeeding in a more upright position is highly recommended," he said.

Operations to repair the lip gap or mouth ceiling are generally carried out after the baby is at least 10 weeks old, has a minimum weight of 5 kilograms, and hemoglobin levels reach 10. However, if the baby does not meet these requirements, medical action needs to be postponed and can be a challenge in itself, both in terms of action and recovery.

Both Trimartani and Dini agree that early detection and education to parents is very important. With sufficient understanding and careful preparation, children with cleft lip and mouth ceiling gaps have a greater chance of living a healthy and productive life.