Breastfeeding a baby with a congenital abnormality or birth defect

Breastfeeding is difficult for any mamma. But, for the mother of AN child with a congenital abnormality or birth defect, it is intimidating.

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, i'm that includes a really useful post on breastfeeding a baby with a congenital abnormality or birth defect, written by our March of Dimes blogger and Lactation Counselor. many thanks Lauren, for this post full of helpful, sensible tips.

A congenital abnormality could be a congenital disorder during which a baby’s higher lip doesn’t type utterly and has a gap. A roof of the mouth|birth defect|congenital anomaly|congenital defect|congenital disorder|congenital abnormality} could be a similar congenital disorder in a very baby’s palate (roof of the mouth). A baby is born with one or each of those defects. If your baby encompasses a congenital abnormality, a birth defect, or both, he could have bother breastfeeding. it's traditional for babies with a congenital abnormality to want some beyond regular time to urge started with breastfeeding. If your baby encompasses a birth defect, he possibly cannot feed from the breast. this can be as a result of your baby has additional bother consumption and swallowing. You can, however, still feed your baby pumped-up breast milk from a bottle.

Your baby’s supplier will assist you begin sensible breastfeeding habits right when your baby is born. The supplier could recommend:

• special nipples and bottles that may build feeding breast milk from a bottle easier.

• AN prosthesis. this can be atiny low plastic plate that matches into the roof of your baby’s mouth and covers the cleft gap throughout feeding.

Here ar some useful breastfeeding tips:

• If your baby chokes or leaks milk from his nose, the soccer hold position could facilitate your baby take milk additional simply. Tuck your baby below your arm, on an equivalent facet you're nursing from, sort of a soccer. He ought to face you, along with his nose level along with your sex organ. Rest your arm on a pillow and support the baby’s shoulders, neck and head along with your hand.

• If your baby prefers just one breast, attempt slippery  him over to the opposite breast while not turning him or moving him an excessive amount of. If you would like, use pillows for support.

• Feed your baby in a very calm or darkened space. Calm surroundings will facilitate him have fewer distractions.

• Your baby could take longer to end feeding and will ought to be burped additional usually (2-3 times throughout a feed).

• it should facilitate to stay your baby as upright as attainable throughout his feeding. This position can permit the milk to flow into his abdomen easier, which is able to facilitate stop choking.

How breastfeeding will facilitate your baby:

• His mouth and tongue coordination can improve, which may facilitate his speech skills.

• His face and mouth muscles can strengthen, resulting in additional traditional facial formation.

• If your baby chokes or leaks milk from his nose, breast milk is a smaller amount irritating to the secretion membranes than formula.

• Babies with a cleft tend to own additional ear infections; breast milk helps defend against these infections.

If your baby is unable to breastfeed:

• Feed your baby with bottles and nipples specifically designed for babies with clefts. raise your baby’s health care supplier for recommendations.

If you're involved if your baby is obtaining enough to eat, or if he's having bother feeding, speak with a lactation counselor, your baby’s supplier or a nurse if you're still within the hospital.