Because of the tediousness and patience required for breastfeeding for all mothers, not just those whose baby has a cleft lip, many mothers choose alternative means of feeding, such as bottle feeding. If your baby has a birth defects, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, he or she has structural abnormalities that may inhibit his or her feeding abilities. For instance, your child may have difficulty sucking on the bottle, and therefore trouble receiving the milk from the bottle. There are several bottles on the market that are aimed specifically towards children with a cleft lip. These bottles have a soft top, making it more accessible to your baby: your speech language pathologist can recommend the best brands and bottles for your individual baby.
Babies with Birth Defects may Have Trouble
Suckles is a part of the pediatric swallowing process. It is different from swallowing in that it occurs from 8 months of gestation up until 6 months after birth. Suckling also differs from sucking in the tongue and jaw movement. The jaw is stable and the tongue moves back and forth. This works in young babies because of the developmental stage of their laryngeal structures. With a cleft lip, your baby may have difficulty with tongue movement and minor problems with suckling. If suckling is a problem for your baby it is wise to develop a pattern of squeezing the bottle to help the baby adapt for a pattern of suckling. This pattern will help your baby adjust to the proper movements to help obtain the milk.
It is extremely important to maintain your baby’s weight and nutrition. Despite the structural differences, your baby should still develop eating habits (such as receiving solids at 6 months) and should retain a healthy wait. If at any point you have difficulty with feeding you should contact your physician for alternative methods.
Topamax, the popular pharmaceutical drug used to treat epilepsy and migraines, has been shown to cause cleft lip and cleft palate in children when taken by women during pregnancy.
Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey & Philadelphia
If your child was born with cleft lip it is likely that you have some questions regarding your use of Topamax. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 0833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Young babies with a cleft lip are often able to receive nutrition through bottle feeding. It is important to keep an eye on your individual child’s particular eating capabilities. For instance, newborn babies with a cleft lip may need more time to eat because of sucking difficulty due to the lack of closure between the lips and nasal cavity. Babies also may need to be bottle fed rather than breastfed because of these closure issues. Liquids, like milk from a bottle, may leak through the nasal cavity. The specific method chosen for your baby depends on your own child’s cleft lip condition. It is important to contact your physician regarding precise techniques that are most beneficial to your baby.
Cleft lip occurs when the developing tissue of the nose and upper jaw does not fuse normally resulting in a split in the lip. Cleft lip is treatable and generally does not cause health problems although in some more severe cases, children have difficulty feeding. The defect usually occurs on only one side of the upper lip, and very rarely in the lower lip. Cleft lip is visible at birth and beyond the noticeable physical appearance, there are usually no other symptoms.
Women frequently use Topamax because they are much more likely to suffer from severe migraine headaches as opposed to their male counterparts. In fact, women are three times more likely than men to encounter migraines. Women who are looking to become pregnant face an additional risk. In their childbearing years, the likelihood of headaches increases yet again, making women of this age extremely vulnerable. Therefore, it is quite understandable that many women would turn to a well respected product, such as Topamax, to alleviate pain. The problem that has now surfaced is that Topamax has been linked to certain birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palate. Although Topamax is a proven commodity that deals well with ailments such as epilepsy and migraines, the risk of potential birth defects in pregnant women may lead them to search for alternatives. The FDA and birth defect lawyers both agree, Topamax should not be prescribed for pregnant women in most cases.