offspring question

[djd]

Since I was born with cleft lip and palate (and my wife was not) will that mean I will have a kid(s) with cleft lip and palate?

As far as I know, the condition does not run in my family.

thanks.
--djd

[Linda S S]

"Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital defects, or birth defects, which occur very early in pregnancy. The majority of clefts appear to be due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors. The risks of recurrence of a cleft condition are dependent upon many factors, including the number of affected persons in the family, the closeness of affected relatives, the race and sex of all affected persons, and the severity of the clefts."
From the Cleft Foundation Website

[Bailliejo]

Our son was born with a cleft lip and palate. It is not genetic my family or my husbands. They told us that these things just happen and they are not sure why. Our geneticist told me that it would be about a 6% chance of our next child having one. He put me on 4 mg of folic acid because that vitamin is supposed to help prevent clefts.