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

[Jennifer]

My daughter had a surgery to close her unilateral cleft lip
when she was about 4 months old. She had been breast fed & I
was concerned about her not being able to breast feed in the days
after the surgery. Our family physician found a doctor at the
children's hospital in our state who agreed to put
"permanent" sutures in the surgical area instead of
dissolvable ones that are usually used by surgeons in our area.
With the "permanent" sutures, my daughter was able to
breast feed as soon as she started to recover from the
anesthetic. It made me feel better because I was able to provide
her with a comfort measure so soon after such a painful
experience. However, the "permanent" sutures meant that
we had to go back to the surgeon in one week to have the sutures
removed, but it was worth it to me Hope this helps! Jennifer Let
me know if I can answer any other questions.

[Christal Cullymore]

My daughter had lip surgery when she was 5 days old. Right
after surgery, she went straight back to her bottle. We use the
Habermann nipple by Medela. We get it through the lactation
center at our hospital. It is very soft and relies on a chewing
action rather than a sucking acion. They are more expensive than
traditional nipples, but worth every dime. Hope this helps. If
you need someome to talk to, feel free to e-mail me.
cullymor@bitstorm.net

[Anonymous]

my son had his lip fixed when he was 3 months and we went
right back to the bottle and didn't spoon feed till he was 1
after his palate was fixed and we used the same bottle as you.
and we did great so you will too

[EDorey1125@aol.com]

When my son Mikey had surgery last June, he was 3 months old.
He was using a nuk orthodontic nipple and he continued to use
that right after he came out of surgery. They told me not to
change anything at all right after the lip surgery, because he
will have to get use to eating with his new lip.



Erica mom2mikey 1yr, ucl&p

[gepcossy@libero.it]

I'm an 50 years old italian woman (mother and wife) born with cleft lips and palate. i'm a Medical doctor. My parents said to me that in the first months, they gave me milk by a bottle, but my father had enlarged the trou and they switched slowly the milk into my mouth.