See also: Cleft palate What is cleft lip? A cleft lip occurs when the right and left sides of the lip fail to grow together as the baby develops in the womb. A cleft lip occurs within the first trimester of pregnancy between the sixth and eighth week of gestation. A cleft may result from a family history (genetic predisposition), a spontaneous change (mutation) of a gene in the case of a syndromic cleft, or exposure to some medication, chemical or infection prenatally. Most often, the cause is never determined and is identified as an isolated incidence.

See also: Cleft lip What is a cleft palate? A cleft palate occurs when the two sides of the palate (palatal shelves) fail to grow together and fuse during fetal development. Cleft palate occurs in approximately 1 in 750 live births. A cleft may result from a family history (genetic predisposition), a spontaneous change (mutation) of a gene in the case of a syndromic cleft, or exposure to some medication, chemical or infection prenatally. Most often, the cause is never determined and is identified as an isolated incidence. The palate is divided into two sections.

Most children are aware of the new coronavirus from news, social media, or school and event closures. Children benefit from simple, honest communication to prevent worry, fear or misconceptions about new life experiences. Children often sense their caregiver's worry and stress, and that can lead to the child experiencing similar feelings. The child life specialists at Inova Children’s Hospital have created the following resources to provide you with child-friendly language to guide your conversations with children and ideas to support your family during this time of constant change.

Interdisciplinary care for children with craniofacial differences by leading pediatric experts The Craniofacial Program at Inova Children's Hospital provides comprehensive, family-centered care to children with craniofacial differences throughout the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC area including distant regions of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. The craniofacial team is an American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association approved team.

Our pediatric dermatologists diagnose and treat children with chronic and acute skin disorders including acne, atopic eczema, dyspigmentation, congenital nevi and hereditary skin diseases. For more information about our pediatric dermatologists, search for an Inova physician or call 1-855-MY-INOVA (1-855-694-6682).

Conditions and diseases associated with a child’s endocrine system are often much different than their adult counterparts. Our Diabetes and Endocrinology Program and pediatric endocrinologists are highly qualified to treat diabetes and other pediatric conditions related to growth and development with sensitivity and compassion. These experts are well versed in pediatric hormonal conditions affecting growth and sexual development and understand fully their impact on a child’s physical and emotional health.

Inova L. J. Murphy Children's Hospital is a regional leader in diagnosing, treating and managing digestive, liver and nutritional problems in children and adolescents. Our physicians expertly handle all pediatric GI issues, from more commonly seen conditions to the most complex and specialized cases. We are also active in national research efforts.