This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital
Cleft palate is a birth defect that is not life-threatening and can be corrected by surgery, but has a significant impact on the life and health of children. Early detection of cleft palate helps parents prepare psychologically and necessary things in the process of giving birth and taking care of the baby after birth.
1. Screening for malformations by fetal ultrasound
Fetal ultrasound is a method that uses ultrasound waves emitted through the head to reach organs in the body and collect images, helping to observe the structures and activities of the fetus in the uterus.
Ultrasound is non-invasive, painless and currently there is no research showing that ultrasound harms the health of the mother and fetus. When it comes to fetal ultrasound to monitor fetal growth and screen for malformations, it can be performed at any time during pregnancy. However, it should not be overused, a lot of ultrasound only needs to be followed up on important milestones as prescribed by the doctor.
Many birth defects are detected early with routine antenatal care, fetal ultrasound and prenatal diagnostic tests. Early detection of malformations from which timely intervention measures can be taken, minimizing the number of malformed children in the womb or preparing for the best care during birth and after birth, limiting the rate of postpartum mortality due to malformations. certain birth defects.
During pregnancy, screening for birth defects is recommended for everyone. However, some of the following subjects have a high risk of having a baby with birth defects, so screening tests and fetal ultrasound to detect birth defects should be done.
Pregnant women over 35 years old, father over 55 years old. Married by blood. Pregnant women with a family history of birth defects or having given birth to a malformed baby. Pregnant women with a history of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth of unknown cause. Pregnant women are infected in the first 3 months of pregnancy: Rubella, flu ... Parents often have to work and live in a toxic environment, many chemicals, and are exposed to radiation. Parents with medical diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure.
2. Can ultrasound detect cleft palate?
Of birth defects in children, cleft lip and cleft palate are the most common with an incidence of 1 in 700 to 1 in 600 births. Cleft palate is an abnormal development in the upper lip and palate, a form of fetal morphological abnormalities that can be detected by fetal ultrasound.
Ultrasound helps to detect abnormalities in the morphology of the fetus (Abnormalities that can be seen with the eyes), but how the dysfunction of the organs is not diagnosed . Functional disorders can be detected after the baby is born.
During the fetal period from 21-24 weeks, if the mother is not too fat, the ultrasound machine is good, the fetal position is favorable (however, the position of the fetus may change during the ultrasound) doctor With experienced ultrasound, the fetal ultrasound at this time can help detect most of the morphological abnormalities of the fetus such as cleft lip, cleft palate, hydrocephalus, dilated ventricles, spina bifida, hernia diaphragm, esophageal atrophy, duodenal stenosis, umbilical hernia, abdominal wall cleft, short limbs, club limbs, renal aplasia, bladder malformation...
During these weeks, the detection of malformations is meaningful in cases of severe fetal malformations such as hydrocephalus, renal aplasia... It is still possible to terminate a pregnancy before 28 weeks of age.
However, for cleft lip, cleft palate is not a life-threatening malformation, so it is necessary to closely monitor and plan for postpartum care.
Fetal ultrasound is a safe method to screen for most fetal malformations. Among them, cleft lip and cleft palate can be detected. However, whether fetal ultrasound can detect abnormalities or not depends on factors from the person performing the technique, the quality of the image... The most important of which is the person performing the ultrasound with experience. So when ultrasound is needed to screen for birth defects, pregnant women should go to reputable facilities, doctors with expertise and good experience to limit the possibility of missing birth defects.
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal care visits, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively.
For detailed information about all-inclusive maternity packages, please contact the hospitals and clinics of the Vinmec health system nationwide.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
