The fourth most common birth defect in the United States: cleft lip and cleft palate. One in 700 babies born has a cleft lip and/or cleft palate (Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, 2017). Children of Native American, Latino, or Asian ancestry are more likely to be born with cleft clefts. “Compared to girls, twice as many boys have a cleft lip, with or without a cleft palate. However, compared to boys, twice as many girls have a cleft palate without a cleft lip” (Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, 2005-2017, p. 1). What are cleft lip and cleft palate?Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay A cleft is a separation or cleft (Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, 2017). An orofacial cleft is an opening in the palate and/or lip. All clefts are treatable. Most children undergo surgery very early in life to repair them (Cleft lip and palate, 1995-2018). A cleft lip is a tear in the upper lip between the nose and mouth. A cleft on one side is called a unilateral cleft, while a cleft on both sides is called a bilateral cleft. A cleft palate is a tear in the palate. The back of the palate more towards your throat is called the soft palate while the front of the palate towards your mouth is called the hard palate (Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, 2017). These facial and oral malformations occur very early in pregnancy, when the baby is developing inside the mother. It is possible to have one without the other or to have both a cleft lip and a cleft palate (Cleft lip and cleft palate, 2005-2017). Cleft lips form during the first ten weeks of pregnancy. The bones and tissues of a baby's mouth, nose, and upper jaw normally fuse together to form the upper lip and roof of the mouth, but the tissues do not come together and a split forms. A cleft lip may look like a slight opening just above the lip, but it can also extend to the nose and even the gums. A cleft palate can range from small to large. A cleft lip itself is more common in boys, while a cleft palate itself is more common in girls. Cleft lips and palates are more common in boys. Some cleft lips are visible during prenatal ultrasounds, while others may only be seen after the child is born. A cleft palate is difficult to discern until the mouth is inspected after birth (Cleft Lip and Palate, 1995-2018). Many clefts are thought to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Both mothers and fathers can pass on genes that cause cleft lip and/or palate. If mothers take certain medications during pregnancy, they may increase the chance that their baby will have a cleft lip or palate. Mothers who don't get the right amount of prenatal nutrients may also increase the risk of their baby having a cleft. Another possible cause of cleft lip and palate is women smoking cigarettes, using drugs, or drinking alcohol during pregnancy. “Research has shown that mothers who drink excessively (drinking four or more drinks in a short period of time) during the first weeks of pregnancy have a higher risk of having a baby with a birth defect of the face such as a cleft lip or palate” (Cleft lip and palate, 1995-2018, p.1). Cleft lip and palate cannot be avoided (Cleft lip and palate, 2005-2017). A?