Reviewed by Veena Angle, MBBS, MD and Physician Brandon Yew

Classification of Cleft Lip and Palate: How to Prevent it

Published September 17, 2022| 7 min read

A cleft lip and palate are common birth defects. Learn about the classification of cleft lip and palate and how to prevent it.

A child with cleft lip being carried on a shoulder.

A cleft lip and palate are common birth defects that develop when facial structures don’t close properly during the development of an unborn baby. Almost one baby in every 700 live births suffers from a cleft lip or palate. The classification of cleft lip and palate depends on whether it’s associated with other genetic conditions or syndromes and the structural abnormality.

Normally, the tissues that form the lip and palate join in the second and third months of pregnancy. However, in certain babies, the complete joining does not happen, leaving a split or a cleft.

Having a baby born with a cleft lip or palate can be emotional for parents. However, surgery can restore a normal appearance to babies with minimal scarring. Read on to know more about the classification of cleft lip and palate, treatment and what you can do to prevent the defect.

Classification of Cleft Lip and Palate

Close up of baby with cleft lip — Cleft lip and palate may at times be associated with a genetic syndrome.

A cleft lip and palate may occur as a part of genetic syndromes or as isolated defects. The defect is classified as syndromic or non-syndromic cleft lip and palate based on its association with a syndrome. Non-syndromic defects are more common and are further grouped on the structure of the defect as follows:

Cleft lip and alveolus
Cleft palate
Incomplete, one-sided cleft lip and palate
Complete one-sided cleft lip and palate

Complete cleft lip and palate on both the sides

The defect may be identified in ultrasonography examinations before birth. The split in the lip or palate is usually immediately identifiable at birth. It’s noticed as a split in the lip and roof of the mouth or palate that may affect one or both sides of the face. The cleft appears as a small gap in the lip or may extend through the gums and palate to the bottom of the nose.

The classification of cleft lip and palate also includes the submucous cleft palate, when the split occurs only in the muscles of the soft palate. As the defect is at the back of the mouth and covered by the mouth’s lining, this type of defect usually goes unnoticed at birth. It’s only diagnosed when the baby shows symptoms. Cleft lip and palate symptoms include difficulty with feeding, swallowing, a nasal voice, and chronic ear infections.

Cleft Lip Prevention

images of cleft lip before and after surgery — Surgery can correct the defect caused by a cleft lip and palate.

Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners agree that good antenatal care is key to preventing a cleft lip and palate.

“TCM can help address prenatal imbalances through TCM dietary therapy, herbal medication, acupuncture, cupping, gua sha (scraping), moxibustion, and tuina (Chinese manual therapy),” says Real Health Medical Senior Physician Brandon Yew. “A TCM physician will carefully formulate medications and treatments to address the unique body constitution of every individual patient, especially if they’re pregnant.”

He advises pregnant women to consult a qualified TCM physician for proper assessment as pregnancy is a sensitive and high-risk phase, requiring high levels of care and caution.

Prenatal care

There is considerable evidence that expectant mothers who smoke and consume alcohol during pregnancy are at a higher risk of having babies with a cleft lip or palate. Avoid these habits during pregnancy and take this opportunity to quit smoking altogether.

Take prenatal vitamins regularly, especially in the initial months of pregnancy. Besides folic acid and iron, ensure the supplements contain calcium and vitamin D to promote your baby’s teeth and bone development. Other vitamins to look out for include vitamins C, A, E, B, zinc and iodine.

Herbal remedies

Physician Yew recommends the following herbal remedies to address prenatal imbalances:

Wu Bi Shan Yao Wan (无比山药丸): Boosts Kidneys’ yang, addresses Kidney Deficiencies
Ba Zhen Tang (八珍汤): Boosts Spleen qi and Liver blood, addresses Spleen and Liver Deficiencies
Cang Fu Dao Tan Tang (苍附导痰汤): Dispels Dampness, phlegm and Qi Stagnation from the Spleen, Liver and uterus
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (少腹逐瘀汤): Dispels blood clots from the Liver and uterus
Si Miao Wan (四妙丸): Dispels Heat and Dampness from the Liver, Kidneys and uterus

Xiao Yao San (逍遥散): Dispels Dampness, Qi Stagnation and blood clots; boosts qi and blood to strengthen Spleen and nourish Liver

Herbs can also be used for wound healing after corrective surgery for cleft lip and palate. Physician Yew suggests the following:

Astragalus root (huang qi, 黄芪): Replenishes lost qi, promotes faster and better wound healing
Angelica sinensis (dang gui, 当归): Replenishes lost blood, promotes faster and better wound healing
Dragon’s blood (xue jie, 血竭): Dispels blood clots, arrests bleeding, and promotes faster and better wound healing
Radix ampelopsis (bai lian, 白蔹): Neutralises Heat toxins, arrests bleeding and promotes faster and better wound healing

Acupressure

Physician Yew recommends acupressure, which is an easy self-remedy that you can practise at home. Use your fingers or a massage stick to apply pressure on certain acupoints. Massage each point in the clockwise and anticlockwise direction, 20 times each. Repeat for at least three minutes per acupoint.

He suggests massaging the following acupoints before pregnancy. Avoid massaging them during pregnancy:

An illustration of a left hand, showing he gu (LI4) acupressure point — He gu is located on the back of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones. It helps dispel pathogens and restores and enhances qi and blood circulation within the meridians.

When a loose fist is made, the point is on the ulnar aspect of the hand, above the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint, at the end of the crease of the wrist.

Lie que is located on the radial margin of the forearm, superior to the styloid process of the radius, 1.5 finger widths above the transverse crease of the wrist.

Tian Shu acupoint is located bilaterally on the abdomen, 2 finger-widths lateral to the navel.

On the lower abdomen, two finger-breadths lateral to the midline and three finger-breadths inferior to the navel.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 4 fingers-breadth below the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the lower abdominal cavity and revitalises Kidneys’ yang energy.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 2 fingers-breadth below the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the lower abdominal cavity and revitalises kidneys’ yang energy.

Dai Mai originates at a Liver meridian point on the lateral ribs, descends to the waist line and encircles the waist like a belt.

Illustration of zu san li (ST36, 足三里) acupressure point to relieve abdominal pain — Zu san li (ST36, 足三里) is located 3 inches below Dubi, one finger breadth from the anterior crest of the tibia, in muscle tibialis anterior.

Located on the medial side of the shank, at the depression posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

An illustration of a right foot, showing san yin jiao (SP6) acupressure point — On the inner lower leg, four fingers-breadth above the tip of the inner ankle bone, just behind the shin bone. It revitalises the functions of the Spleen, Liver and Kidneys.

3D illustration of the tai xi acupressure point — Located on the tibial aspect of the leg, posterior to the medial border of the tibia, three finger widths inferior to the Yin Ling Quan acupoint.

3D illustration of the Taichong (LV3) acupressure point — Located on top of the foot, in the depression closest to the first metatarsal space. It revitalises the Liver.

He gu (LI4,合谷): Dispels Heat, Dampness, phlegm, Stagnated Qi and blood clots from the Liver
Hou xi (SI3, 后溪): Dispels Heat, Dampness, phlegm, stagnated qi and blood clots from the Kidneys
Lie que (LU7, 列缺): Dispels Heat, Dampness, phlegm, stagnated qi and blood clots from the Liver and Kidneys

Tian shu (ST25, 天枢): Dispels Heat, Dampness, phlegm and stagnated qi from the Spleen
Shui dao (ST28, 水道): Dispels Heat, Dampness, phlegm, and stagnated qi from the Spleen, Liver and Kidneys
Guan yuan (RN4, 关元): Revitalises Kidney qi and yang to dispel Cold, Dampness, phlegm, blood clots, stagnated qi and fluids
Qi hai (RN6, 气海): Revitalises Kidney qi and yang to dispel Cold, Dampness, phlegm, blood clots, stagnated qi and fluids
Dai mai (GB26, 带脉): Dispels Cold, Heat, Dampness, phlegm, stagnated qi and blood clots from the Liver and Kidneys

Zu san li (ST36, 足三里): Strengthens Spleen qi to dispel Dampness, phlegm and stagnated qi
Yin ling quan (SP9, 阴陵泉): Strengthens Spleen qi to dispel Heat, Dampness and phlegm
San yin jiao (SP6, 三阴交): Strengthens Spleen qi, revitalises Liver and Kidneys; dispels Heat and Dampness
Tai xi (KI3, 太溪): Revitalises Kidneys and dispels Dampness
Tai chong (LR3, 太冲): Revitalises and soothes Liver to dispel Heat, Dampness, blood clots and stagnated qi

A qualified TCM practitioner will be able to perform acupuncture during a session, which is a more effective method of tackling imbalances. It’s safe only if it’s prescribed after assessing your unique body constitution and state of pregnancy, to determine the suitability of the remedies.

Physician Yew advises not to self-medicate without proper professional guidance as pre-existing symptoms might worsen or give rise to complications, posing danger to pregnancy. Hence, always seek professional help from a licensed TCM practitioner, in conjunction with your obstetrician.

Now that you’re aware of the classification of cleft lip and palate and know the traditional methods of restoring imbalances during pregnancy, you can use this knowledge to help lower the risk of this condition.