First of all, a cleft palate is a congenital split in the roof of the mouth. So, are you pregnant and scared that riding your motorcycle may cause your baby cleft palate?
No, it doesn’t. Congenital disabilities like cleft palates are caused by the abnormal development of the baby in the mother’s womb. However, researchers remain unclear on why cleft palates happen to some babies.
If you are in your first trimester of pregnancy and desire to ride on your motorcycle, the risk of fatal injuries and other complications may be catastrophic. If you are not pregnant and curious if merely riding a motorcycle causes a cleft palate, the answer is simply no; it won’t.
What increases risk of cleft palate
Environmental factors and genes play essential roles in cleft palate babies. In most cases, cleft palates develop if babies inherit a gene from a parent whose family has a history of cleft palate. Exposure to hazardous substances, diabetes, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and obesity.
Hazardous substances like steroid tablets and some anti-seizure medications may increase the likelihood of unborn babies developing a cleft palate.
Older women beyond childbearing are also at a higher risk of having children with cleft palate. High blood pressure, preeclampsia and, to some extent, damaged organs are a few of the contributing factors of birth defects like cleft palate.
What causes so many cleft palates
Cleft palate may be caused by a number of different reasons, like genes, what the pregnant mother eats or drinks, and her medications. If cleft palate runs in the family, it is also more likely to have a baby with this congenital disability.
Pregnant women who smoke and drink excessive alcohol, especially during the first few weeks of pregnancy, are more likely to have babies with a cleft palate.
Nutrient deficiency of the pregnant mother can also cause cleft palate in the unborn baby. Taking prenatal vitamins is essential to supplement the average growth of the fetus and protect the fetus from birth defects like cleft palate.
Pregnant women who are diabetic and obese and having certain infections during pregnancy like measles may also cause cleft palate. Severe viral infections also have a higher chance of babies being born with a cleft.
Taking certain medicines during pregnancy during the first trimester of pregnancy can more likely produce cleft palate babies.
Can stress cause cleft palate during pregnancy?
Suppose a pregnant woman is severely stressed emotionally, mentally and physically. In that case, her nervous system, hormone production, and cardiovascular, metabolic and immune systems are completely affected and thus increase the risk of all types of congenital disabilities, and cleft palate is one.
What deficiencies cause cleft palate
One of the deficiencies causing cleft palates in unborn babies is the lack of folic acid during pregnancy. A growing baby absorbs lots of folic acid from its mother. If the mother does not get enough folic acid during pregnancy, the baby is at higher risk for birth defects like cleft palate.
Vitamin B deficiency in the maternal diet can also increase the risk of babies developing cleft palates.