Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Prevention of Cleft lip and palate

Because the cause of cleft lip and palate is not fully understood, there is no way to ensure that it will not happen to your baby. However, doing all you can to ensure a healthy pregnancy will help to give your baby the best possible chance.

It has been suggested that taking an increased dose of folic acid (a type of vitamin B) whilst pregnant can help to prevent cleft lip and palate. Although the research evidence to support this is not strong, it has been shown that folic acid can reduce the risk of other conditions like spina bifida so you should discus this with your GP or health visitor.

Several types of drugs are thought to increase the risk of cleft lip and palate. If you are taking the following drugs and are thinking of having a baby, you should talk to your GP:

• Anticonvulsants: a type of prescription-only drug most often used in the treatment of epilepsy and other conditions involving seizures (fits);
• Benzodiazepines: a group of prescription-only drugs often used in the short-term treatment of anxiety and insomnia;
• Corticosteroids: a group of drugs used to treat a wide variety of conditions. The research evidence suggests that the main risk is from corticosteroid used early in pregnancy. Short courses of corticosteroids are often given to women who are likely to have a premature baby, where the benefits (fewer babies die) far outweigh any risks.

If you are not sure whether drugs you are taking fall into these categories you can also talk to your pharmacist.

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