constant bfing in baby with cleft lip

[bluemoo]

I've already posted asking about slings, but thought I'd see if anybody had any other advice.

My 11 week old son has a bilateral cleft lip. He feeds really slowly as he can;t make a proper seal. He's putting on weight okay, but feeds for up to 8 hours a day, with most of his feeds taking at least 45 minutes (3 hours is his record, and I'm pretty sure he's swallowing and not just sucking). At the moment he's feeding every couple of hours during the day, so I'm spending huge amounts of time bfing. Luckily he does sleep for 7-8 hours overnight.

Any ideas?

I've been to the bfing clinic and they seem to think its normal but did make a couple of suggestions which haven't really helped.

Just thought,Bluemoo.
Have you rung Association for Breastfeeding Mothers?
I recall seeing article on similar in their magazine.
They could perhaps put you in touch with someone specialising in this field.

0870 401 7711
Hopefully Tiktok Mears or Pupuce will be here with some good ideas.

Hi, bluemoo.

A baby who is sleeping 7-8 hours at night is bound to feed more often in the day, and he may well take a little while longer than most babies to get what he needs because of his cleft.

I do think this is all normal, so I don't have any suggestions to change it...you don't need to change normal things!

However, of course you may need more practical help and support with other parts of your life, and I hope you get it

It's great you are bf - when he comes to have surgery, his immune system will be tip-top

Its nice to know its normal tiktok, but its still driving me nuts! I've never been very good at sitting still, so sitting down to feed for 8 hours a day is not coming naturally.

I'm contemplating getting a sling that I can feed him in, so at least I won't be tied to the sofa so much.

I suppose the other option is to express more as he can take a bottle with a latex teat in 10-15 mins...

I am determined to keep breast-feeding until his op though.

It's absolutley wonderful that you are able to breastfeed...even "just" with the cleft lip it cna be a major problem, so you are doing fabulous! Hopefully you will be able to feed in a sling and find some more freedom!
I assume you are already in touch with Clapa? I would think they should have Info of Breastfeeding councillors specially trained to deal with a clefted Baby!
But, anyway, I think your lil one is having a pretty normal feeding pattern, especially if he sleeps such good stretches at night...!

Thanks 3andno more.

We do see the cleft nurse who is associated with clapa - she is sympathetic and has suggested giving him a couple of bottles of expressed milk a day to give me a break.

I should really just be grateful I can breastfeed him at all, I guess, as I was warned I might well mot be able to. I just find it frustrating when I see other mums feeding their babies in 10-15 mins and mine's there for hours!

I think I just need to accept that he's special and enjoy the daytime telly. And buy a sling...

lol...sounds like a plan...think of all the rest you are getting...and if daytime isn't to apealing....reading a good book might be an option!