Breast feeding for cleft lip and palate patients, using the Hotz-type plate

Objective: Oral-cavity feeding movements were analyzed during sucking and used to modify a Hotz-type plate to facilitate sucking in infants with cleft lip and palate. Design: Sucking movements were analyzed using lateral view cine radiography as three adults fed from a bottle. A Hotz-type plate was then modified to better isolate the oral cavity and to occlude the oral airway. The plate was then utilized in direct breast feeding by 10 babies. Outcome Measures: Sucking rate, amount of milk taken, and duration of use of the plate were assessed. Results: Wearing this plate, four babies with cleft lip and palate could suck their mother's breast, drinking about 22 g/trial. Conclusions: Although supplemental bottle feeding was required to provide enough nourishment, this is the first step to reaching ideal breast feeding situation for these patients.