Early care
The doctors at the Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery will be informed immediately if they have not already been consulted during the prenatal ultrasound diagnosis and consultation. In certain cases, depending on the type and size of the cleft, it may make sense to admit your child to one of the neonatal wards in the women’s clinic or children’s clinic first. In the beginning, the focus is usually on nutritional issues. Pediatric nurses specializing in the care of newborns with clefts will do their best to meet your needs and provide you with assistance and advice on feeding and all other infant care issues. In many cases, breastfeeding is possible, but occasionally – especially in the case of continuous cleft lip and palate – feeding with a bottle and teat is more suitable. The most important prerequisite for successful breastfeeding or bottle feeding is to find the right way for your child with great patience and calm. This requires time and experience.
It has been shown that it is crucial for good drinking behavior to take into account the specific characteristics of each individual child and to find the right breastfeeding technique or teat for the child. We examine your child and are available to answer your questions and provide advice right from the start. Occasionally it is necessary to examine other organ systems as part of the inpatient stay. The neonatologists will discuss this with you on a case-by-case basis. As a rule, your child can be discharged home with you after a few days. We are always available to answer any questions you may have at home.
