Having a baby with a cleft in the lip or palate can be frightening. There are several surgeries designed to fix these issues, resulting in an almost invisible amount of scarring. However, these surgeries are generally most successful between 2 and 6 months of age -- which means there’s still a few months when you’ll be caring for a baby facing problems with making noise, eating, and other potential problems. Here’s a look at how to care for a baby with a cleft lip or palate.
The Truth About Breast Feeding
When your infant can’t create suction, what do you do? While normal breastfeeding may not be possible, that doesn’t mean your new addition can’t drink breast milk. Talk to your insurance company to see what kind of breast pumps they cover, and talk to a lactation specialist about how to use it.
If you aren’t prepared for this (it can take some time for your breasts to get adjusted to being pumped), many hospitals provide breastmilk donation programs to be sure your newborn is still getting the benefits of breastmilk, even if it isn’t coming from you at first.
Special Means of Feeding
Many places offer a variety of bottles to help your infant overcome suction issues. Things like a pigeon valve or nipples that allow a faster milk flow may be helpful. If the bottles or other special devices don’t seem to be working, wait two days to try the new method before moving on.
In addition to having trouble pulling milk into his mouth, your baby may experience nasal regurgitation, which means that milk is coming out of his nose. That is totally normally -- just hold him upright and give him a minute to clear his passageways.
Be Brave
With ultrasound technology, your obstetrician can usually let you know if your baby is going to have a cleft lip or palate by the second trimester of your pregnancy, which gives you plenty of time to become educated and prepared. Your baby is going to be unique -- and that’s not bad.
The cleft in your baby’s orofacial development isn’t going to make him any less beautiful, nor are you going to love the newest member of your family any less. While your baby might need extra help with feeding, he’s going to need all the same things other infants need -- love, cuddling, and a lot of sleep.
Look for support groups in your area or online. This is a great way to learn tips from parents who have already gone through what you are getting ready to experience. It is also a wonderful way to help you stay strong. Ultimately, you are going to care for your baby like any other parent -- you will just need to do a few things differently.
