Feeding Challenges of Babies with Cleft Palate
Feeding an infant with a cleft palate can present a challenge both before surgery and after. All newborns require about 100-150 millimeters of breast milk per kilogram of body weight every day. So it's important for a parent of a child with a cleft palate to follow feeding directions carefully, since this condition can lead to malnutrition.
This is because a baby with cleft palate does not have a separating point between the oral and nasal cavities. This makes breastfeeding a newborn with cleft palate difficult, as he or she may tire easily from the lack of nutrition, an perhaps choke on or spit up the meal. Fortunately, there are many ways to ensure that your child's cleft palate doesn't prevent him or her from getting most of the nutrition they need.
Many babies that suffer from cleft palate are fed with a bottle, and some can even be successfully fed by breastfeeding. Bottles are usually easier to use because babies can use a combination of chewing and sucking to feed, and they are generally easier to use in controlling the flow of milk. However, care must be given in making sure the bottle nipple opening is not too large, which could cause an infant to choke.
Products to Make Feeding a Child with a Cleft Plate Easier
Some products that parents find helpful include the “Mead-Johnson Cleft Palate Nurser”; a specially made bottle and nipple combination. The nipple is long and soft with a crosscut hole and a bottle that can be squeezed to increase the flow. Other babies respond better to The “Ross Cleft Palate Nurser”; it's a bottle that offers greater control of liquid with only minimal sucking required. The nipple on this product can be shortened to match the desired speed of the flow. Of course, the specifics of your child's cleft palate shape will dictate which works best. Other babies with a cleft palate do better with the “Haberman Feeder” which gives the infant three different flow rates, and squeezes the air out of the nipple before feeding- thus reducing the air intake.
The most important thing to remember when caring for a child with a cleft palate is to look for signs of dehydration, weight loss, or fatigue caused by malnutrition. Don't panic if food gets stuck in the palate or falls down the nasal cavity. It may cause your child to sneeze; however, it won't cause a lasting problem. Your greatest concern is ensuring that your child gets proper nutrition. If he or she doesn't respond to feeding implements like the ones listed above then your doctor may instruct you in cup feeding. A feeding tube is a last resort.
Following cleft palate surgery, your child will need to eat and drink intravenously. Your baby's elbows will have to be restrained for 1-2 weeks to prevent any irritation to the recovering palate. This will require special feeding arrangements, and a diet of liquids and very soft foods. A product called a “Breck Feeder” (a catheter attached to a syringe) may be recommended by your doctor.
While parents should be cautious during feeding, they should also remember that babies born with cleft palate are still capable of eating and functioning. In fact, there are many adults who have uncorrected cleft palates. The experienced surgeons at the International Craniofacial Institute can advise you on the best products and methods for helping your child function with a cleft palate both before and after surgery.