In short, the medical world is still not 100% sure why cleft conditions occur. There may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors at play, or they may just spontaneously occur for no reason at all. If you have questions, genetic counselling is available through various Queensland hospitals, as well as private practices.

Parents sometimes share feelings of helplessness or guilt with us, wondering if it was something which they did, or didn’t do, which caused their child to have a cleft. This is an incredibly unfair and overwhelming burden for them to carry, and truthfully, we may never fully understand the science behind why our children were born with this condition.

CleftPALS QLD understands that sharing these thoughts with a supportive community, some of whom may have experienced similar feelings, helps many to process the diagnosis in the early days and beyond.