Can Genetic Counseling Prevent Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate?
How can genetic counseling help in preventing or treating cleft lip or cleft palate problems? Obviously, genetic counseling cannot alter any variation in the genes. Genetic counselors help couples understand the health of each parent and of the baby in order to predict any possible risks. Genetic counselors evaluate family history, medical records, study prenatal tests and provide further information on how parents can deal with the potential issues of a child born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate. Genetic counselors are highly educated; most have a master’s degree in genetic study and hold certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Ideally you should see a genetic counselor before getting pregnant; realistically though, the earlier the better. While 3% of all babies born have birth defects, most of those involving cleft lip and cleft palate are treatable by surgery. If you have, or expect to have, a child born with cleft lip and cleft palate, don’t panic. There are m
