Assisted feeding is more reliable for infants with clefts – a randomized trial. For infants with cleft lip and/or palate, feeding is … According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s recent update on their protocol regarding breastfeeding the infant with a cleft lip and/or palate, approximately 1-3/1000 infants will be born with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. In such a condition, your baby will use a lot of his energy to take his feed. Around 60% of babies with Trisomy 13 will be born with a cleft lip, or palate, or both. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 36, 262-268 (1999). Children with just a cleft lip (without a cleft palate) do not routinely have feeding difficulties. With a cleft palate, poor suction can make it very difficult. Babies born with a cleft lip are able to breastfeed normally. Breastfeeding can be possible for a baby with a cleft lip, but is difficult for babies with a cleft palate. The most immediate concern for a baby with cleft palate is good nutrition. Breastfeeding: babies with a cleft of lip and/or palate has been written to give information and support to new mothers (and families) of babies who have been born with a cleft. Cleft lip and palate feeding problems can be tough to sort, and breastfeeding babies with cleft lip and palate may take some time. Breastfeeding can be challenging for any mom. But by knowing the correct cleft palate feeding techniques, it is possible. Since a baby with a cleft palate can’t generate good suction in his or her mouth and can’t stimulate a nipple as effectively as a baby without a cleft palate, it is normally necessary to help with feeding by using specialized bottles and nipples. Can my baby breastfeed? Shaw, W.C., Bannister, R.P., & Roberts, C.T. Sucking for children with a cleft palate is difficult because of the poorly formed roof of the mouth. Breastfeeding a baby with a cleft lip or palate – Transcript. Home / Your Visit / Patient Education / Feeding Your Baby With Cleft Lip and Palate. Feeding provides infants with nourishment they need to grow. Can I breastfeed my baby? It’s wonderful to know that if your baby has been born with a cleft lip or palate, this is completely correctable by surgery, and you are likely to have the support of a really good cleft palate team. Breastfeeding: Baby with Unrepaired Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate If your baby was born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, you may wonder if breastfeeding is possible for you. This allows a period of time in which the baby’s mouth can mature, but cleft palate plastic surgery should be done before the baby starts talking. Your Cleft Nurse Specialist will advise you on whether or not you need to use specialist feeding … eeding a newborn baby is one of the first joys, or potential challenges, when welcoming a new bundle of joy into the family. See ‘Breastfeeding’ for more information. Most babies with these conditions can breastfeed. You can pump your breast milk and feed your baby with a special bottle provided by a feeding specialist or speech therapist. For more details, see the education sheet "Breastfeeding." So are babies born with a cleft palate; because nipples are soft, there is no risk of damage to the palate. In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I am featuring a very helpful post on breastfeeding a baby with a cleft lip or cleft palate, written by our March of Dimes blogger and Lactation Counselor.Thank you Lauren, for this post filled with useful, practical tips. If breastfeeding is initiated right after birth, closeness between mother and baby will be enhanced. The answer? Repair of cleft palate. Babies with a cleft palate are unable to make a seal between the mouth and the nipple/bottle teat, and cannot suck effectively. It may also require assistance from experienced lactation experts and doctors. Breastfeeding a child born with a cleft lip or palate assures that mother and baby spend lots of cuddling time together. It also provides time for parents and children to bond. Pumping breast milk and using specialty bottles are supported as a way of feeding a baby with a cleft palate. Breastfeeding a baby with a cleft lip or palate – Transcript. Cochrane Database Syst Rev CD003315 (2011). Babies with a cleft lip, but no cleft palate, can usually breastfeed. Cleft palate surgery is usually done within the first or second year of the baby’s life. Bessell, A. et al. Feeding Your Baby with Cleft Palate. Feeding babies is a special experience for parents and newborns. Yes! Breastfeeding a baby with a cleft lip and/or palate. It’s wonderful to know that if your baby has been born with a cleft lip or palate, this is completely correctable by surgery, and you are likely to have the support of a really good cleft palate team.