Cleft Lip

This infant has a normally formed, intact palate, but has a unilateral cleft on the left side of the lip. It is important to distinguish unilateral (or bilateral) cleft lip from the more unusual and concerning midline clefts that can occur. Midline clefts are often associated with underlying midline defects in the brain or other structures, whereas the type of cleft pictured above is more likely an isolated finding. Feeding can be impaired in infants with cleft lip (although the infant above was able to breastfeed sufficiently). If needed, a Haberman bottle feeder may be helpful.

photo by Janelle Aby, MD