Hereditary Factors

( 1) When both parents are normal: the probability of cleft first baby is one in 600.

(2) When both parents are normal and one child has a cleft: the probability of a second cleft child is one in 20.

(3) When both parents are normal and both the first and second child have clefts: the probability of a third cleft child is one in four.

(4) When one parent has a cleft lip: the probability of a cleft lip child is one in 20.

(5) When one parent and one child is cleft: the probability of another cleft lip child is one in four.

(6) When both parents have a cleft lip: the probability of cleft in the first born is one in four.

Clefting in children is a question of probability, as there are many factors involved in gestation that cannot be prevented or predicted by medical know-how. Cleft children are not anyone’s “fault,” or the result of anything wrongs done by the parents. Parents have no reason to feel guilty about having a child with a cleft lip or palate.