Cleft lip is one of the birth defects that is quite common in Indonesia. In the condition of cleft lip, there is a gap in the upper lip. Sometimes this cleft lip makes mothers who have babies with these complaints confused. One of them, how to give milk to the baby
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Cleft lip can occur on one side or two sides. In addition to the lips, the gap can also affect the ceiling of the oral cavity. In general, more than 50% of cleft lip cases are also accompanied by cleft palate.
However, do not worry. Cleft lip is not the end of the mother's struggle to breastfeed. Mothers can still breastfeed to babies who have cleft lip disorders. To be sure, the mother must be patient and learn to give milk either directly or with the help of a bottle, cup, spoon or the other.
Normally, infants use the effect of suction and compression to drink breast milk directly on the mother's breast. The ability to create suction effects is key to sticking to the breasts, maintaining a feeding position and sucking milk. Thus, the baby and mother will be equally comfortable.
Also know that the process of sucking milk is a bit complex. Initially, the baby's lips attach to the mother's nipple to close the oral cavity of the front. The soft palate rises up and back so that it comes into contact with the throat wall and closes the back of the oral cavity. Tongue and jaw drops and sucks breast milk from the breast. The effect of compression occurs when the baby presses the breast between the tongue and the jaw.
In cleft lip babies, there is a relationship between the pressure of the oral cavity produced during suckling and the type or magnitude of the cleft size. Babies with cleft lip are more likely to suck directly on the mother's breast, compared to babies with cleft lip as well as cleft palate.
To support the success of breastfeeding the baby cleft lip and / or cleft palate, it takes modification of the feeding position. The following are recommendations based on the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine:
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Cleft lip can occur on one side or two sides. In addition to the lips, the gap can also affect the ceiling of the oral cavity. In general, more than 50% of cleft lip cases are also accompanied by cleft palate.
However, do not worry. Cleft lip is not the end of the mother's struggle to breastfeed. Mothers can still breastfeed to babies who have cleft lip disorders. To be sure, the mother must be patient and learn to give milk either directly or with the help of a bottle, cup, spoon or the other.
Normally, infants use the effect of suction and compression to drink breast milk directly on the mother's breast. The ability to create suction effects is key to sticking to the breasts, maintaining a feeding position and sucking milk. Thus, the baby and mother will be equally comfortable.
Also know that the process of sucking milk is a bit complex. Initially, the baby's lips attach to the mother's nipple to close the oral cavity of the front. The soft palate rises up and back so that it comes into contact with the throat wall and closes the back of the oral cavity. Tongue and jaw drops and sucks breast milk from the breast. The effect of compression occurs when the baby presses the breast between the tongue and the jaw.
In cleft lip babies, there is a relationship between the pressure of the oral cavity produced during suckling and the type or magnitude of the cleft size. Babies with cleft lip are more likely to suck directly on the mother's breast, compared to babies with cleft lip as well as cleft palate.
To support the success of breastfeeding the baby cleft lip and / or cleft palate, it takes modification of the feeding position. The following are recommendations based on the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine:
- The baby is directed in such a position that the cleft lip is in the upper position of the breast. For example, a baby with a right cleft lip would be more easily breastfed with a cross cradle position on the mother's right breast or football on the mother's left breast.
- The mother can cover the cleft lip with the mother's fingers and / or press the baby's cheeks to reduce the cleft lip width.
- A two-sided lip cleft can use the upright straddle position.
- The baby with a palate cleft is positioned semi-upright to reduce the return of breastmilk to the nose and into the Eustachian tube.
- The position of football hold or twin is more effective than cross cradle position for babies with cleft palate.
- The mother can also help pump the milk manually into the baby's mouth, if there is no effect of suction and compression from the baby.
If direct suckling is difficult enough, do not give up. Mother can still breastfeed to the baby with the help of tools such as cup, spoon, special bottle and others. Breastfeeding protects babies from ear infections (otitis media) which is quite common in cleft lip babies.
Pregnant mother's mother should cleft lips to a specialist or lactation expert about breastfeeding position, breast milk supply and how to pump milk. Remember that breastfeeding your baby with cleft lip is not impossible for you to do.
