Cleft Lip

Article Translations: (Spanish) (Hmong) (Somali)

What is a cleft lip?

A cleft lip is a lip that did not come together evenly in the early months of fetal development. The cleft may extend into the palate (roof of the mouth) and/or into the nose, or may just involve the lip.

The cleft can occur on one or both sides of the lip. Surgery is done to repair it, usually within 3 to 6 months after birth.

How can my baby eat?

Your baby's feeding plan will be determined by type of cleft.  Babies with a cleft lip only may be able to breastfeed.  Babies with a cleft palate will need to use a special bottle.

The doctors and nurses will help to determine how best to feed your child.

What can I expect after surgery?

The anesthesiologist and surgeon will prescribe and explain the medicine that will be used to keep your child comfortable. Your child will have an intravenous line (IV) to provide fluids, pain medicines, and antibiotics.

A monitor will be used to observe your child's heart rate and breathing patterns while receiving IV pain medicines.

Your baby will not have anything to drink until fully awake from anesthesia. This is usually 1 to 4 hours after surgery, depending on the doctor's orders. When able to drink, you will feed your baby the same way after surgery as before surgery.  When feeding, be careful not to rub against the incision.

A pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol® or another brand) or ibuproferen will be given for discomfort about every 4 to 6 hours. This is often a frustrating time for you and your child, and extra comfort and holding during this time may be helpful.

How do I care for the incision?

The incision will be closed with liquid surgical glue. Liquid surgical glue is a sterile, liquid topical skin glue. It is used to hold closed skin edges of wounds from surgical incisions. If liquid surgical glue has been applied to your child's incision, you will notice a film over the incision site.

• DO NOT apply liquid or ointment medications or other substances to the incision after it has been closed by liquid surgical clue, as these substances can weaken the film and allow the incision to reopen.
• DO NOT pick at the film covering the incision. This can disrupt its adhesion to the skin and cause skin edge separation.
• The liquid surgical glue film will naturally flake off in 5 to 10 days.
• DO NOT scrub, soak, or expose the site to prolonged wetness until the film has flaked off and you have had a post operative exam by your surgeon.

How can I care for my child?

It is very important to protect the incision after surgery.

Do not give your child a pacifier or change the feeding method until you are instructed by the doctor.

Your child will need to wear arm cuffs at all times to prevent rubbing on the incision line. Use a long-sleeved shirt under the arm cuffs to protect the skin. The arm cuffs can be taped to the pajama top so they don't slide off. Do not tape them to your child's skin.

Take off the arm cuffs, one arm at a time, to exercise arms and hands 2 or 3 times a day. Check for red or tender areas in the armpit
or wrist area.

Use the arm cuffs for 2 weeks after the surgery when your child is sleeping or not directly supervised. 

When should I call the surgeon?

• any break or opening in the incision
• Fevers up to 102.0 F are considered normal after surgery. Call your provider for fevers over 102.0 F that do not come down with acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or Ibuprofen 
• incision is red, swollen, or draining

What else do I need to know?

Financial aid may be available through Services for Children with Handicaps or TEFRA. For more information, contact the hospital social worker or your local county social worker. Other resources include:

American Cleft Palate Foundation
1829 E. Franklin St. Suite 102
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-2820
1-800-24-CLEFT
www.cleftline.org

Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic
Children's Minnesota
2525 Chicago Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-813-6888

Questions?

This sheet is not specific to your child but provides general information. If you have any questions, please call the doctor.

Back To Top