II. Benefits: Breast Feeding is very advantageous in this group
- Lower infection risk before and after repair
- Strengthens facial Muscles and eases repair
III. Management: Suggestions
- Consider Palatal obturator plate
- Plastic dental appliance
- Covers cleft in Palate and improves suck
- Do not delay Breast Feeding waiting for plate
- Plate is optional
- Breast Feeding can occur without plate
- Prepare Breast prior to feeding (enhances let-down)
- Nurse upright if not using obturator
- Infant faces mother while sitting in her lap
- Legs straddle mother's body
- Asymmetric defect in lip or Palate
- Hold side with defect against Breast
- Hold as much Breast as possible in infant's mouth
- Optimizes mouth to Breast seal
- Mother leans slightly forward
- Stabilize infants chin/jaw with index and thumb
- Consider Breast Pump usage