I have had the incredibly enriching and emotional experience of photographing a newborn with a cleft lip.  My time with this beautiful baby melted my heart and introduced me to a major challenge faced by a surprisingly large number of families, and I feel compelled to shine a little spotlight on the fact that July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month.  I now know that this is one of the most prevalent problems affecting newborns in the United States, impacting an estimated one in 500 babies.  Families facing this issue live here in Austin, and in every community in this country, and my hope is that by spreading awareness and education, we’ll all be just a little bit better equipped to show love and support to the families we meet who are caring for an infant with a cleft.  To be given the opportunity to connect with this family has been a lovely gift giving me a new understanding and greater sensitivity, and because of it, my life has been enriched.  Read on to learn a little more.

 

Cleft and Craniofacial Facts According to Various Online Resources:

• A “cleft” means a split or separation; the palate is the “roof” of the mouth
• A child can be born with both a cleft lip and cleft palate or a cleft in just one area
• During normal fetal development between the 6th and 11th week of pregnancy, the clefts in the lip and palate fuse together; in babies born with cleft lip or cleft palate, one or both of these splits failed to fuse
• The CDC estimates that each year in the United States about 2,650 babies are born with a cleft palate, and 4,440 babies are born with a cleft lip
• Clefts are among the most common problems found in newborn babies; some estimate as many as one in 500 babies are born with a cleft
• No one knows exactly what causes clefts, but most believe they are caused by one or more of three main factors: an inherited characteristic (gene) from one or both parents, environment (poor early pregnancy health or exposure to toxins such as alcohol or cocaine), and genetic syndromes
• Surgery to repair a cleft lip is usually done between 10 and 12 weeks of age; a cleft palate is repaired through a procedure called palatoplasy, which is done between nine and 18 months
• Unless treated surgically, clefts can interfere with breathing, feeding, speech development and language, and hearing

 

There are numerous cleft and craniofacial resources available online.  Below is a brief list of organizations which specialize in and/or advocate for awareness, education, prevention and assistance for families in need:

Cleft Palate Foundation

Cleft Lip & Palate Foundation of Smiles

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Children’s Craniofacial Association

Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas Craniofacial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Center

National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month (NCCAPM)

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)

FACES: The National Craniofacial Association

 

Jennifer Najvar is a Newborn photographer in Austin, Texas.  Sessions are scheduled during the first 14 days after your baby’s arrival.  The best time to reserve your Newborn photography session is during your pregnancy before you reach 30 weeks.