Cleft Lip Breastfeeding And Cleft Palate Feeding

What is a cleft palate? A cleft palate is an opening in the inside of baby’s mouth that starts in the hard or soft palate and ends at the nose entrance. Actual Breastfeeding with cleft palate is not always possible…depending on the severity.

Mothers that have a baby with a birth defect like cleft lip or palate will need to breastfeed their babies even more importantly than others, since these babies in particular are more inclined to get infections. Cleft lip breastfeeding is easier than breastfeeding babies with cleft palates. But that doesn’t mean that you cant breastfeed a baby with a cleft pallet, you can still pump your breast milk and feed it to your baby in special cleft palate bottles that have a cross cut nipple, or you can feed baby with alternative feeding methods like cup feeding or lactation aids.

There are mothers who successfully breastfeed their babies that have cleft pallets …more info on cleft palate breastfeeding below.

Some babies with these problems might choke allot during feeding and may also leak the milk from their noses. Babies with cleft pallets will almost always need to be fed via bottle to supplement as they usually don’t get in enough milk during breastfeeding. Some babies have cleft lip and palate simultaneously and are usually fed with a special sippy cup or are breastfed sitting up. A cleft lip palate combination can be very frustrating for moms trying to breastfeed and support and help can be found at a cleft palate clinic where cleft lip and palate treatment is superior.

The actual process of breastfeeding can help strengthen baby’s face and mouth muscles which can aid in enhanced speech skills. Cleft lip Breastfeeding is also more practical for a baby with a “hare lip” as baby will have more control over the milk flow than with a bottle.

Cleft lip and palate surgery

Cleft lip repair and cleft palate surgery are recommended as soon as possible and no later than the age of three because of developmental factors. Cleft lip surgery usually takes place with the first 10 weeks of baby’s life. Cleft lip treatment after surgery usually entails baby wearing a head bonnet and splints to restrict his arms, this is just so that baby doesn’t touch or damage the stitches. Cleft palate repair will close the opening between the nose and mouth which will help with breathing, swallowing and the normal development of baby’s mouth. With a repaired cleft palate baby will be able to start breastfeeding normally again.

Here is a site that gives the cleft palate care dos and donts after cleft palate surgery

- Baby chokes and gags while breastfeeding

- Not being able to latch on correctly

- Milk leaks from the nose

- A weak suck

- Baby might swallow too much air during breastfeeding

- Baby might not be able to stay on the breast long enough since he becomes tired so quickly

- Baby might want to only breastfeed on the “good side” of his mouth

- Baby sometimes takes longer to feed

- Cleft palate babies sometimes struggle to breathe

- Baby gains weight very slowly – Infant cleft palate or cleft lip usually results in slow weight gain regardless of whether they are breastfed or bottle-fed.

- Ear infections are common

- Baby has colic... read more on colic here

The solutions to some problems with Cleft palate and cleft lip breastfeeding

- If baby has a preference for which side of his mouth to breastfeed from, then you can always breastfeed him in the cradle position and then just slide him over to your other side in the football hold position. This is so that you don’t always have to breastfeed him on only one side.

- If baby is very weak and keeps falling asleep while you are breastfeeding you can always try waking him by wiping his feet with a damp cloth. You will need to wake baby at least 8 times every 24 hours to breastfeed.

- If baby does not empty your breast during a feeding you might have to pump afterwards to make sure that your milk supply does not lessen. More tips on how to increase your milk supply

- How do you know if baby is sucking right? You will feel a deep pulling sensation in your breast when baby is drinking. A baby that is sucking well will have jaw, ear and temple movement.

- If baby has the cleft on the side of his mouth, sometimes it will be easier to breastfeed him with the cleft side against your breast, this will help for a better seal.

- You will need a hospital grade, electric breast pump especially if your baby has a cleft palate. Some moms decide to pump exclusively.

- You will need to burp baby more often as he might swallow more air than normal

- Babies with a bilateral cleft lip (a cleft that occurs on both sides of the lip) will need to be breastfed sitting up or in the football hold position.

What is a palatal obturator?

It is a device that is for cleft palate that is fitted especially for each baby and covers the open area therefore helping to make breastfeeding much easier, since it covers the open nasal cavity which causes the leaking and choking during feedings.

Causes of cleft lip & cleft palate causes

- 1 in ever 600 babies have a cleft lip or cleft palat

- Cleft lip and cleft palate are more common in Asians, less common in whites and least common in black people.

- Cleft lips and palates are often found to be inherited. Cleft lip & cleft palate genetic occurrences are found to be more common in boys than in girls.

Environmental risk factors may increase the risks

- Smoking while pregnant - A mother who smokes during pregnancy doubles the chances that her child will be born with a cleft lip & palate

- Drinking while pregnant (alcohol)

- Being overweight while pregnant

- Lack of folic acid during pregnancy

Will a cleft lip or cleft palate effect speech?

No, but your baby might just take a little longer to learn to talk. Cleft palate speech therapy is available to children who struggle a little later with their speech development.

What is a submucous cleft palate?

A submucous cleft palate is not as obvious as a normal clefting. It’s covered by a membrane and sometimes never causes any problems, but there is still a risk of ear infection. A submucous cleft can be found as a hard palate or as a cleft soft palate

If your baby is born with a cleft palate or cleft lips, talk with a lactation consultant in the hospital for cleft lip and palate support as soon as possible.

For more cleft palate information or information on cleft palate operation

Other pages on “breastfeeding problems” associated with this page on cleft lip breastfeeding

- Burping baby

- The benefits of breastfeeding

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