Cleft Feeding
An essential part of the Cleft Service is to work with the
network of people involved in your baby’s care to support you in
establishing a good feeding regime that gives baby what he or she
needs and is acceptable to the family.
Normal breast or bottle-feeding takes place by a sucking action
where the lips surround the nipple or teat. The milk is pumped out
by the thrusting action of the tongue and a negative pressure built
up in the baby’s mouth by the closing off of the back of the nose
with the soft palate.
Babies with a cleft lip only do not usually have a problem with
feeding, but some may find making a seal around the nipple or teat
difficult.
Babies with a cleft palate frequently have trouble getting
enough intra-oral pressure for sucking because the cleft causes an
air leak and therefore often require some assistance to feed
effectively.
The specialist Cleft Nurses on the team will provide you with
advice and any equipment you need to help you feed your baby.
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Feeding advice
Weekdays telephone:
0117 3403164
Out of Hours telephone:
0117 3403930