Breast- Feeding to Patient with Cleft of Lip and Palate

Nourishing child with cleft of lip and palate requires special care, taking into account the physiological and the anatomical limitations. At birth, all efforts must be made for the baby with this malformation to be breast fed as early as possible so that it can enjoy the benefits of breast milk. Breast milk is the ideal food for all children during their first months of life for it suits the digestive capacity as it contains proteins which are easily digestible. Breast milk is also free from impurities and germs. Objective: To assess the development of breast feeding in patients with clefts of lip and palate who were accompanied by adequate guidance at the Treatment Center of Craniofacial Anomalies (REVIVA) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: The methodology was based on a survey of the records of patients, between 0 and 2 years, who were attended by REVIVA, and on the operation of a clinical team who were orienting and motivating breast feeding. The results were collected and statistically assessed. Results: It was observed that of the 100 patients who were attended in the proposed age group, 45 were able to practice breast feeding. The patients were classified by the type of cleft of the lip and palate and it was observed that breast feeding was prevailing in patients with unilateral and bilateral pre-notch cleft, followed by those with unilateral and bilateral trans-notch cleft, and showed that breast feeding was less prevailing in patients with pos-notch cleft. Conclusions: In the orientation of the use of breast feeding to patients of clefts of the lip and palate, the success depends on the systemization of exchange, on the appropriate approach, considering the difficulties inherent to the patients and their mothers, followed by the attendance given by the multi- specialized clinical team.