Cleft Palate Consultations

The cleft palate clinical coordinator arranges for a newborn visit to the referring hospital. Usually a registered nurse, occupational therapist or speech therapist trained in feeding a cleft baby will do the initial evaluation at the referring hospital.

Parents/family members involved in the baby's care and medical center staff are trained to use modified feeding techniques. This prevents prolonged, costly hospitalization associated with feeding problems and promotes the opportunity for early lip repair at about 10 weeks of age.

When a team is involved right after birth of a child with cleft lip and palate, we usually eliminate the most common problems that parents and caretakers encounter. As a result, baby has better weight gain, better compliance and a faster family acceptance.

Lactation consultation

Our lactation consultant is available for outpatient (on a consultative basis) and inpatient cleft palate patients to assist parents of cleft palate babies who are having difficulty with breastfeeding. The lactation consultant collaborates with our occupational therapist and clinical nurse specialist.