To Barbara and anyone else--
I am aware of sub-mucosal cleft issues, but I have a hard time picturing
this thing. Can someone describe it in more detail?

This has special pertinence to me because I have a bifurcated uvula, and
also have two tiny tunnels in my hard palate that run to my sinuses. My
youngest son, Eric, also has my split uvula. I used to consider it merely a
novelty until I took anatomy. When my instructor (an MD) saw my uvula, she
told me that she was taught that submucosal clefts of the soft palate often
go hand in hand with bifurcated uvulas.

Interestingly, I had breastfeeding problems with Eric after having nursed my
first 3 with huge supply and no problems. From the very beginning, he was
one of those babies who would "fall off" the breast if you moved around at
all, let alone got up to answer the phone. He clicked, but his digital suck
seemed normal to those who checked him (my pre-LC days). In the second
half-year of his life, my supply seemed lower than with the others, and he
actually became failure to thrive, ceasing to gain weight and even losing a
little ground. Looking back, I now realize that I was too casual about this,
believing in nature since there didnt' seem to be anything wrong with either
of us. Eric didn't begin to really gain weight until he became
well-established on solids, a little over a year of age. He continued to
nurse until age 2.5, but it was on a fairly "dry" breast, for which I had no
explanation.

I wonder if Eric has that submucosal cleft, but how to tell? I'd love to
know.

Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC

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