Cleft lip/palate and breastfeeding?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 11, 2008

Is cleft lip/palate contraindicated for breastfeeding? I have two conflicting sources on this - one says that it is, the other says (basically) that it is not. What do you think?

You are asking for discussion. Why don't you post this on the General Student Nursing Discussion Forum? This forum is for student assistance.

danissa, LPN, LVN · May 11, 2008

Clefts are not necessarily a contra indication for breast feeding, it can be done, but in the main, it takes hard work and perseverance. It may be easier for babies to feed from a soft bottle or use a Haaberman teat, but we have had some babies go home with clefts sucessfully breast feeding. Sometimes it depends on the cleft and how far back the palate is affected, as breast feeders need to pull the breast right to the back of the mouth. It would be very difficult to achieve that seal with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, but say in the case of a cleft lip only, it is possible.

Good luck with your searching!

Mommycakers · May 12, 2008

My one son was born with a cleft lip and I breast fed him. He did not have a cleft palate. He never took a bottle. He had his operation to repair his lip when he was three months old. I never had any problem feeding him before or after the operation.

crunchymomx3 · May 12, 2008

It depends on the extent of the clefts. It's more difficult to get suction with the cleft palate, but with assistance it is still possible.

Jedi of Zen · May 12, 2008

You are asking for discussion. Why don't you post this on the General Student Nursing Discussion Forum? This forum is for student assistance.

I'm open to any assistance as well. Thanks.

Columnist · May 12, 2008

Thread moved to Nursing Student Assistance Forum per OP's request as member is seeking assisitance as a student.

queenjean · May 12, 2008

Depends upon the extent. I've seen mothers breastfeed a baby with a cleft palate with no external assistance; I've seen mothers use a nipple shield to help with the nursing; I've seen mothers use the nipple shield in combo with a supplemental nursing system (SNS); and I've seen mothers not able to nurse because of the cleft.

I have heard about inserts that can be made to place in the infant's mouth, covering the cleft and allowing it to develop the suction needed to nurse, but I've never seen this in reality, so I don't know if this is still (or ever was) used.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 13, 2008

We see this a bit in my neck of the woods. I recently had one mom whose baby had a cleft lip (palate intact) breastfeed beautifully, no supplementation needed. I have seen a mom breastfeed fine with unilateral cleft lip/palate and I have also seen a mom struggle with same. It is so dependent upon the individual circumstances and the individuals involved that I am hesitant to give a blanket 'yes' or 'no' to any situation.