CLEFT LIP AND PALATE MYTHS

If a woman watches a lunar eclipse during pregnancy, her child will have a cleft lip. NOT
TRUE.
o People believe that the moon was bitten thus it formed into an eclipse and if a
mother watches this, the same thing would happen to her baby. This is not true
because Clefting is caused by genetics and environmental factors.
Cleft lip and palate is a curse given to you as your karma for being bad. NOT TRUE.
o Asians, not just Filipinos, view that deformities like clefts are retribution for
wrong doings but this is not true because clefts are caused by genetics and other
environmental factors.
If a pregnant woman slips and lands on her butt, her child will have cleft lips. NOT TRUE
o The womb or uterus is a strong muscle that is designed to provide the baby with
a safe and protected environment to grow to. it is also designed to protect the
baby from external impacts brought about by accidents like slipping. Thus the
baby will not receive much harm from the forces brought about by slipping only.
Thumb sucking will cause Clefting NOT TRUE
o The pressure from thumb sucking is not that great to create a breakdown on the
formed palate and lips.
We should put a safety pin with a key on the mothers belly to prevent the child from
forming cleft lip and palate. NOT TRUE
If a pregnant woman cuts cloth on the bed, her child will have cleft lip or cleft palate.
NOT TRUE.

OTHER FILIPINO TERMS OF CLEFT LIP AND PALATE:
Gusing (cleft lip)
Bingot (cleft lip)
Kapansanan san ngala-ngala (cleft palate)