A cleft lip and palate can be very alarming considering its nature and what it looks like aesthetically. All parents want a healthy, perfect baby and when baby has an anomaly, such as this, I understand how it can be troubling for the parents. They immediately think that something is wrong with their infant. I was the same way with my older son. He was born with an extra digit on each hand. Initially, I was horrified because of the way his hands looked. And I immediately started thinking about his future in school and how he would be perceived by others. After speaking with his pediatrician I realized that it was fixable and would not cause any complications to my baby.
2. Cleft lip – 1 in 1000 live births, cleft palate 1 in 2500 live births. Cleft lip is the failure of the mesenchymal masses in the nasal and maxillary prominences to come together. Cleft palate is the failure of the mesenchymal masses in the palate to fuse. Surgical repair is needed for both anomalies (Chapman, 2010).
3. The response by Marissa’s parents is normal and expected. All parents want a healthy, perfect baby and when baby has an anomaly, such as this, I understand how it can be troubling for the parents. They immediately think that something is wrong with their infant.
4. The nurse can reassure Marissa’s parents that this is a fixable issue. Let them know that their child is not in danger or will not die from this. Have them look at other good features that their baby has. Talk about her eye colour or how much hair she has and who in the family she look like. The nurse should find ways to keep the parents bonded with the baby and not give up bonding opportunities because of her anomaly.
6.
The current priorities for Marissa is feeding. Due to the cleft palate she may have difficulty with the sucking reflex. Gavage feeds or special bottles and nipples are needed to ensure that Marissa is getting all of her feeds and nutrients. Marissa should be cared for like any other newborn.
7. Cleft lip and palate can be associated with other problems, including feeding difficulties, middle ear fluid buildup and hearing loss,
