Comments on: Joys and Sorrows of Breastfeeding a baby with a cleft palate – Amanda and Ethan’s story

By: Amanda Dumouchel

Amanda Dumouchel — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:50:06 +0000

Hi Heather
It is very frustrating, I bought some higher grade medical tape that was a bit stickier and a bit more secure and taped it to my breast. Ethan never really had alot of success with the SNS, it most mostly to just keep him coming to breast long enough so that after his surgery he would still be willing to do it so that I could teach him how without the shield. I found that because I had to thread the tubing through and because it was awkward Ethan could never really get a good seal. We would usually do about 10min on each side and then I would just botle feed. Otherwise we were just so exhausted and frustrated, both of us. I got really skilled I would pump while I fed Ethan his bottle by putting the nursing pillow in my lap and his head propped up on it, bum in my lap so he was pretty much sitting up and then I would feed with the haberman while I pumped, it saved me so much time! Gave me enough energy to go a little longer.. I think that if you can try him each time even if its only for a few minutes he will keep coming to breast. When is your surgery scheduled for? Good luck!

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:33:52 +0000

Amanda,
thankyou so much for your story! I was devastated when I was told I can’t bf my son because of his soft cleft palate. He’s 6 weeks old tomorrow and it’s so tiring pumping all day, plus feeding him let alone all the other daily things we do! I just decided to bf for bonding if for nothing else the other day. I’m going to try a sns system but man the first time I tried it we both got super frustrated! I couldn’t keep the stupid thing under the breast shield, nor could I get both the shield and the tube in his mouth at the same time it was horrible!

By: Amanda Dumouchel

Amanda Dumouchel — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:36:28 +0000

Hi Jessica!
I put Ethan to breast prior to pumping every single time. Before his surgery I think it was 4 times in a 24 hr period. I would pump an extra time after he went to bed. The surgeon didn’t want Ethan sucking until 3 weeks post-op but I used a nursing system and squeezed it about 5 days post op to minimize the effort. I would be more than happy to answer any and all questions and chat with you. Send me an email amandamariehines@yahoo.ca Ethan is almost 19mths and he is doing so fabulously! You will be amazed at how quickly your baby will pull through the surgery and come back to breast:) where abouts are you located?
Cheers Amanda

By: Jessica Harper

Jessica Harper — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:09:37 +0000

Amanda,
How many times a day did you put Ethan to the breast? did you do it every single day? every feed?
How soon after the surgery did your surgeon allow him to try and breastfeed?
My daughter is currently 2 months and we are trying, she will also have her surgery at 10 months but they dont want her to suck anything until 3 weeks post-op. Im worried even if I could keep her interested until 10 months that I will lose her in the 3 week post-op period….I would love to chat with you more about your success!

By: S. Ettinger

S. Ettinger — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:05:24 +0000

I nursed my little girl with a cleft in her soft palate for 7 months until she had her repair. We had to supplement with a bottle until she had her surgery but she is doing really well now. She is 13 months old and nurses in the morning and night time. She uses a sippy cup during the day. I continued to nurse with the mind set of it being for bonding and comfort more than nutrician and pumped a whole lot!
Good luck to those new moms out there that want to give it a try.