Cleft Lips Post-Surgery Feeding

[Mei Li / Email : meilifoo]

I have a 3 months old daughter with cleft lips and palate and
she is due for her cleft lips surgery in early April. Doctor's
advise was she has to be spoon fed for a minimum of 3 weeks after
her surgery. She is currently fed by bottle with an orthodontic
nipple and is eating well with this arrangement. I have tried
spoon feeding her the last couple of days and she refuses to eat
much b'cos she's doesn't like the spoon and feels frustrated! If
anyone should know of any feeding apparatus (preferable in nipple
form and can be attached to a baby bottle), kindly post a reply
or email me. I would also welcome suggestions from anyone who can
share their experiences with me in a similar predicament.



Thank you.



From : Mei Li/Malaysia

[Lisa Barnett]

I wanted to give you a word of encouragement. My son was born
with a bilateral cleft lip Dec. 23, 1996. The first year was very
hard for us but we have done fine. He is now 2years old and is
normal as any other little boy his age. We used a doctor in
Galveston, TX at University of Texas Medical Branch, His name was
Dr. Blackwell. The team there gave me a special bottle for my
son. I'm sorry I can not remember the name at this time, but I
will let you know soon. I will be praying for your family. I know
how you are feeling right now and how fustrating it is not
knowing what to do for your child. Not knowing what the outcome
of the surgery will be, for me the first 2 weeks after the
surgery was the hardest, when I looked at my baby boy, the face I
loved and charished was no longer there, but in its place was a
new face, one everyone said was "normal". I guess that
was the hardest part of my son's birth defect.

[venessa]

I had a second child, a daughter, born 3-28-98 who has
undergone both her cleft lip repair, at 3 mos. old, and just 3
weeks ago her cleft palate repair. Feeding after these surgeries
can be frustating at times. Just hang in there it does get
better. Have you been told of using the Brecht Feeder? This is
more a method of giving liquid than a bottle or container. Go to
your local drug store and ask for a 2oz syringe with a lock tip.
Then get some surgical tubing (which is a yellow tinted rubber
tubing, similar to catheter tubing). Attach this tubing onto the
tip of the syringe and fill with breast milk or formula. This
will prevent her stiches from being stretched during the healing
process (which helps limit scaring). I hope even though this is
late you can still use the advice. If I can give you any
encouragement my e-mail address is jvlfamily@skywizard.com