A while back I posted about a mom who was told that she coudn't nurse her
baby for three weeks before or after cleft palate surgery.   This baby was 8
months old at the time and was nursing well.  Thanks to all the wonderful
information from you at Lactnet, this woman was able to persuade the doctor
that nursing up until several hours before sugery was acceptable.

She agreed to not put the baby to breats for 3 weeks after surgery because
the repair was more involved and the skin in the palate had to be pulled
much tighter than was anticipated.   Mom only held out for 2 weeks though
becasue spoon feeding was so miserable.

Now mom says that the baby has a fistula that will have to be repaired at a
later date.  Mom said that she watched nurses in the hospital syringe feed
the baby and is convinced that the syringes hit the repaire and may have
caused the fistula themselves.   Do any of you have any experience with
this?  Is it possible to bump the incision and open it with the syringe?
This mother has no plans to take any action, but is disapointed that there
needs to be more repaire work done to her baby.

Thanks for all the help and I'm looking forward to your opinions on this.

Nancy Sherwood LLLL, IBCLC- Perth, Australia