6/2/98

10:36 AM
 Cleft palate
I have a mother who has a 2 month old baby with a cleft palate.  The
baby is gaining weight nicely and is being fed by the mother's
expressed human milk without additional supplementation through a
Haberman feeder.  The mother is interested in getting the baby to
breastfeed directly and I remember a lot of conversation a few months
ago about different oral devices that could be used.  Does anyone
have in contacts around Chicago, Illinois that might specialize in
making these types of devices for the baby?  I do not have any
experience with cleft palates so is it worth encouraging her to try
to see if she can breastfeed directly at all, or is the chance of
that happening too minimal?  Her doctor does not plan to do the
corrective surgery for another 5 months.

Please respond to me privately if that is easier.  Thank you.

Maji Steele, M.A.
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