How likely is it that my second child could have a birth defect ?

Question

I was born with a cleft lip and palate but NOBODY else in my family had one, it was only me who was born with one. I had a baby who was luckily born without one. How likely is it that my second or third baby could have it?

Patricia · Answer

talk with the doctor who is taking care of you during this pregnancy.

Tulip · Answer

Perfect question for the genetics people

Philipthepale · Answer

Cleft palate is primarly due to folic acid deficiency during pregnancy.  Unless you have a genetic disease that causes maxillofacial abnormilities, you can all but eliminate it as a birth defect by taking pre-natal vitamins.

Sandy · Answer

it's an X-linked recessive gene. so your baby's father is likely dominant, so none of your children (with this man) will have a cleft palate.

no · Answer

you'd have to undergo bloodwork to know

How likely is it that my second child could have a birth defect ?

5 Answers