I notice that there are many posts on breast pumps at the moment. One thing that I have noticed with cleft parents who are frequently exclusively pumping or, desperately trying to find the time to latch their baby AND maintain an killer EP schedule is that eper's frequently have no  'tuition' on how to effectively use a pump. This is fundamental for someone who needs to learn to pump as efficiently as possible. I'm not sure how many mothers admit this...it sometimes comes out several e-mails down the line when a brave, I have everything under control, mother, comes out with a "I can just barely do this...am barely coping, barely sleeping, am not spending enough time with my baby".

I have been concerned about this situation, extremely frequent amongst cleft parents as we also have the added stress of a baby who needs extra help latching, as we have medical appointments and decisions about surgery to make - keeping up a pumping schedule, even with the most efficient of double electric pumps, is a monumental effort.


I've read the new ILCA article 'Recapturing the Art of Therapeutic Breast Massage during Breastfeeding' http://jhl.sagepub.com/content/29/3/328 and the Srinagarind hospital study 'The Promotion of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Infants with Complete Cleft Lip and Palate' 
http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CEIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkkucleft.kku.ac.th%2Fresearch%2FJMAT_FINAL%2FJMAT%2520Final%25202010%2FThe%2520Promotion%2520of%2520Exclusive%2520Breastfeeding%2520in.pdf&ei=0ONDUpWpB46rhQfl8YDoBg&usg=AFQjCNFPF1Frm_6TM7oykPZ4aqOVguegQw&bvm=bv.53217764,d.bGE
and am beginning to wonder whether relying on the electric breast pump is a help or an impediment to breastfeeding with a cleft? 

I have written a post on my website explaining further http://cleftlipandpalatebreastfeeding.com/2013/09/exclusive-breastfeeding-with-cleft-lip-and-palate/ - I look forward to comments and suggestions,

Alice Farrow
Rome, Italy
www.cleftlipandpalatebreastfeeding.com

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