Myths Surrounding Cleft Palate
When you have a child born with cleft palate, you're on a sudden quest for information. While there is a lot of good information available, there are still a lot of myths surrounding this medical condition. For example, one of the more nonsensical myths that have been spread is that cleft palate and cleft lip can result from a pregnant woman's exposure to a solar eclipse. Not true.
Your child's cleft palate can take an emotional toll as you rack your brain for what you did wrong. While there may be some link to environmental causes and drug use, the majority of cleft palate cases are hereditary and could not have been prevented. Your job now is to find the best treatment options for your child. Here are some common myths associated with cleft palate and separate the exaggeration and paranoia from the reality.
One of the biggest myths is that cleft palate is horrid condition that should be surgically repaired as soon as possible. Here the reality: It's only natural for parents to fear cleft palate, as they would any other congenital deformity. However, it's a condition that can be surgically corrected when the time is right. Most if not all symptoms can be repaired and your child can resume a normal life in time.
High emotions may motivate parents to seek cleft palate surgery immediately. However, most doctors won't recommend cleft palate surgery until 12-18 months, and cleft lip surgery taking at about 3-6 months. This allows your child to reach an ideal weight and allows the oral cavity can expand to a size large enough to allow the surgeon inside.
Cleft Palate Myths about Feeding and Speech
You may have been told that babies with cleft palate cannot be breastfed. The truth is that s ome infants will be able to breastfeed fairly well though others may have difficulty holding on to the nipple. However, this uncertainty is no reason to avoid trying to breastfeed completely. If, after attempting to breastfeed the baby has difficulty, then a cup or specialty bottle should be used. But none of this excuses the myth that says that cleft palate surgery should be pushed ahead because a child cannot eat. You child can receive the needed nutrition, perhaps even through breastfeeding.
Another myth parents often here is that speech therapy is not effective until after cleft palate surgery is performed.
Some parents even believe that cleft palate surgery will bring on such drastic changes in the palate that it's not worth investing in speech therapy beforehand. The truth is that children can be taught to focus on creating nasal and vocalic sounds even before undergoing surgery.
More importantly, stifling your baby's curiosity and speech development could do much more damage than good. If your child is discouraged from speaking he or she will start to learn that speech is a negative thing, and this will take a toll on language development. Speech therapy should not be delayed. (Speech therapy should also be continued in a matter of weeks not months).
Don't underestimate your baby's ability to survive, and thrive with, a cleft palate condition. When parents consistently show love and support to a child, before and after surgery, anything is possible. Including a full recovery after cleft palate surgery.