“The causes of orofacial clefts among most infants are unknown. Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors.

CDC research has found some factors that increase the risk of having a baby with an orofacial cleft:

• Smoking during pregnancy
• Having diabetes before pregnancy (type 1 or 2)
• Use of certain epilepsy medications during pregnancy”

CDC Birth Defects (https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/cleft-lip-cleft-palate.html)