Bottle Feeding Your Baby with Cleft Lip/Palate

Summary

This video offers guidance for parents of babies with cleft lip and palate on feeding techniques. It highlights the importance of individualized care and introduces special bottles like the Medela Special Needs Feeder and Dr. Brown's Specialty Feeding System. The video demonstrates how to assemble and use these bottles, emphasizing controlled milk flow and proper positioning for comfortable feeding. It assures parents that even if breastfeeding isn't possible, they can still provide optimal nutrition by pumping breast milk and using these specialized feeding methods.

Takeaways

• 👶 Every baby is unique, and their care needs are individualized, especially for those with cleft lip and palate.
• 🤱 Babies with only a cleft lip may be able to breastfeed, but those with a cleft palate may not be able to due to the inability to physically close the mouth.
• 👩‍⚕️ Doctors can advise on whether a baby with cleft lip and/or palate can breastfeed or not.
• 🍼 If breastfeeding is not possible, special bottles can be used to ensure proper nutrition.
• 🧴 Pumping breast milk and using special bottles is an alternative for providing the best nutrition to babies who can't breastfeed.
• 🏥 Spectrum Health recommends specific bottles for babies with cleft lip or palate, such as the Medela Special Needs Feeder and Haberman Feeder.
• 🔧 The Medela Special Needs Feeder allows for controlled milk flow through squeezing the nipple, and it requires assembly with a membrane and disc.
• 🍼 The flow rate of the Medela feeder is adjustable, indicated by lines on the nipple, with the shortest line providing no flow and the longest line the fastest.
• 👶 Positioning the baby in an upright cradled or side-lying position is crucial for feeding, and pillows or support cushions can aid in this.
• 🍼 The Dr. Brown's Specialty Feeding System is another recommended bottle that allows the baby to control the milk flow without the need for squeezing.
• ⏱ Feeding sessions should be kept around 20 minutes to prevent the baby from overworking and to ensure proper digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Q & A

What are the feeding challenges faced by babies with cleft lip and palate?

Babies with cleft lip and palate may have trouble with feeding. Those with a cleft of the back part of the palate cannot physically close their mouth from the nose, making breastfeeding difficult.

Can babies with a cleft lip alone breastfeed?

Yes, babies with a cleft lip alone may very well be able to breastfeed.

What should parents do if their baby cannot breastfeed due to a cleft?

Parents can still provide the best nutrition by pumping breast milk and using special bottles designed for babies with cleft lip or palate.

What types of bottles are recommended for babies with cleft lip or palate according to Spectrum Health?

Spectrum Health recommends the Medela Special Needs Feeder or Haberman Feeder, and the Dr. Brown's Speciality Feeding System as the best bottles for babies with cleft lip or palate.

How can the flow of milk be controlled in the Medela Special Needs Feeder or Haberman Feeder?

The flow of milk can be controlled by offering squeezes to the nipple, and the flow rate is adjusted by aligning the lines on the nipple with the baby's nose during feeding.

How is the Dr. Brown's Speciality Feeding System different from the Medela Special Needs Feeder?

The Dr. Brown's Speciality Feeding System allows the baby to control the flow of milk without the need for squeezing, and it comes with a level one nipple for slow newborn flow rate.

What is the correct way to assemble the Medela Special Needs Feeder or Haberman Feeder?

The assembly involves placing the white membrane into the yellow disk, filling the bottle with breast milk or formula, and assembling the nipple, membrane, and collar correctly.

How should parents position their baby while using the special bottles for feeding?

Babies should be positioned in an upright cradled or side-lying position, using pillows or a Boppy pillow for support if needed.

What should parents do if milk drips from the baby's nose during feeding?

It is normal for milk to drip from the baby's nose due to the cleft palate, and parents should not be worried.

How can parents tell if the milk flow is too fast during feeding with the Dr. Brown's bottle?

If the milk seems to flow too fast, the baby may show signs such as coughing or choking. Parents can adjust the flow by gently tipping the nipple downward and giving the baby a suck break.

What is the recommended feeding duration to avoid the baby working too hard?

Feedings should be kept around 20 minutes to prevent the baby from working too hard and burning the nutrients and calories they are taking in.