What it means
The two sides of the palate normally join early in pregnancy. When they do not, an opening is left that connects the mouth and nose. It can occur alone or with a cleft lipkleft lipA split or opening in the upper lip that is present at birth.Full entry . Babies may have trouble feeding, ear infections and later speech problems, and surgery to close the palate is usually done in the first year or two of life.
For the nurse
Feed the baby upright with a special bottle or nipple, in small amounts, and burp often. After repair, keep hard objects such as straws, spoons and pacifiers out of the mouth, and protect the repair as ordered.
At a glance
| Spanish | paladar hendido |
|---|---|
| Also written | cleft palates |
Related terms
birth defect
A problem in how a part of the body is formed or works that is present when a baby is born.
cleft lip
A split or opening in the upper lip that is present at birth.
palat/o
A word root that means the palate, the roof of the mouth.