Dr. Aboutanos on News Channel 12: Prenatal Screening is Key to Helping Babies with Cleft & Craniofacial Defects

Every parent hopes their child will be born in perfect health, but occasionally things don’t go quite as expected. This was the case for a Richmond family I recently worked with. Their son Silas was born with a cleft lip—but looking at him now all you see is a happy, healthy boy. Thanks to an early diagnosis made during a prenatal ultrasound, Silas’s parents began planning for treatment early, and I performed surgery to repair his cleft lip when he was 3 months old.

It was a joy to help Silas, and I’m thrilled that Channel 12 featured his story to educate parents on the importance of prenatal screening and early diagnosis of clefts. In honor of Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month, I wanted to share the video with you. Click here to watch.

Prenatal screening for clefts benefits both baby and parents

You may be asking yourself, “do I really need to have prenatal screening for birth defects?” thinking it is easiest to simply wait and see. Consider the following: cleft lip is a common birth defect, affecting an estimated 4,000 babies born each year in the U.S. In most cases, an experienced pediatric plastic surgeon can repair the cleft lip and completely restore normal function and appearance—as long as the child is treated before the cleft has a lasting effect on their ability to eat, speak and breathe.

That’s why I urge all expectant parents, regardless of age or family history, to undergo prenatal screening for clefts and other craniofacial birth defects. An early diagnosis of a birth defect not only gives you time to prepare and educate yourself about pediatric reconstructive surgery options, but also gives your child’s doctors time to fully assess the scope of the defect, rule out any associated issues, and have a surgical plan ready to go as soon as your infant is old enough to undergo surgery.

What to do if your baby is diagnosed with a cleft lip or palate

Whether your child is diagnosed before or after birth, it’s important to consult with an experienced cleft and craniofacial pediatric surgeon as soon as possible. If you are in the Richmond area, I will be happy to meet with you to discuss your options. Please contact my office at 804-355-3410 to schedule an appointment.

To view the story on Channel 12’s site, click here.