management

Last reviewed 01/2018

General

  • counselling of the parents;
  • 'before' and 'after' photographs to emphasize the successful outcome of corrective surgery;
  • methods of improving feeding - use of a soft teat with an enlarged hole, nursing the baby erect;

Surgery

  • aims - to provide a good cosmetic result and adequate speech mechanism;
  • cleft lip - repair at 3 months (although neonatal repair is occasionally performed)
  • cleft palate - repair at 6 to 9 months.