South Tidewater News

Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters issued the following announcement on Feb. 23

Some things are hard to accept as a mom, even when you know all the facts and have listened to the specialists. This was my experience when I gave in to the reality that breastfeeding was not an option for my cleft-born child.

We discovered that our daughter would be born with a cleft lip and most likely a cleft palate during a routine 20-week ultrasound. We were shocked with this news and searched endlessly for information from all sources. Of all the things I struggled with, not being able to breastfeed seemed to just burn in my heart. With my two other babies, breastfeeding was my source of comfort to them and the one singular job I had to focus on.

The day of my daughter’s birth was a joyous relief. She was born with a unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. Finally, we let go of the unknowns and focused on taking care of her. A feeding specialist visited us within the hour to provide resources on pumping breastmilk, specialty bottles and nipples, and the news that I would not be breastfeeding. A slow flood of tears just streamed down my face. I showed them how well she latched and how she was rooting in desperation.

Then, my specialist reminded me of the following facts:

• Newborn babies use both suction and compression to transfer milk during breastfeeding.
• Babies born with a cleft lip and cleft palate are not able to separate the oral cavity from the nasal cavity during feeding. Breastmilk comes straight out of their nose.
• Fatigue sets in quickly with a low rate of suction and low amounts of nutrition, creating a dangerous cycle.
• Breastfeeding can occur with supplemental feeding or after the palate repair surgery.

My eyes glazed over once again, but then she said something I could finally understand. Have you ever had a soda at the movies, and it turns out that there was a huge hole near the bottom of the straw? You kept sucking and sucking … and a little bit of soda would come up but then you would get frustrated. That is what your newborn baby will experience.

Finally, I realized it was perfectly acceptable to mourn not being able to breastfeed and to take on the new challenge of using a breast pump, bottle, and possibly formula. More importantly, having my daughter take a bottle meant everyone in the house could feed her. The outcomes were incredible, my husband bonded with her earlier and my boys played a more active part in her care. I could stockpile breastmilk in our deep freezer and have flexibility with work and travel. Our little girl was fed expressed milk for 8 months, right up until her palate surgery.

For any mom out there who is feeling helpless or sad about not being able to breastfeed, I just want you to know that it is perfectly normal. Letting go is hard, but moving forward will give you all the momentum you need to take care of your precious baby.

Original source can be found here.