When we first started feeding Bethany solids at 5 months of age it was quite hard for her to manage getting food past her cleft and not in her nose. It would normally be a 20 minute struggle to get a couple of teaspoons of rice cereal past her lips and thrusting tongue. Most feedings ended with much of the food being expelled equally out of her mouth and nose with a lot of sneezing and snorting involved. It took two long months before she became proficient at maneuvering the food to avoid such catastrophes. There were times along the way when I wondered if she would ever accomplish this task and if it was worth the effort. There was counsel to "just feed her foods through a bottle until her surgery", but I was not comfortable with that and felt it important for her to learn to eat from a spoon while she was still young and willing to continue trying. This spoon that attaches to a squeeze bottle was a very good compromise and really helped her, perhaps because of where the food is on the spoon. Also, we started giving her Gerber Puffs at 6 and a half months old and those were really good practice for maneuverability and helped considerably with eating pureed foods as well. It did take a long time and lots of experimentation from Bethany and us. We learned what thicknesses and amounts she could handle and where to put it in her mouth; she learned how to maneuver the food around to avoid her nasal cavity being assaulted with peas and carrots! Occasionally there is still a struggle but we will continue to persevere until her next surgery.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Feeding Challenges
When we first started feeding Bethany solids at 5 months of age it was quite hard for her to manage getting food past her cleft and not in her nose. It would normally be a 20 minute struggle to get a couple of teaspoons of rice cereal past her lips and thrusting tongue. Most feedings ended with much of the food being expelled equally out of her mouth and nose with a lot of sneezing and snorting involved. It took two long months before she became proficient at maneuvering the food to avoid such catastrophes. There were times along the way when I wondered if she would ever accomplish this task and if it was worth the effort. There was counsel to "just feed her foods through a bottle until her surgery", but I was not comfortable with that and felt it important for her to learn to eat from a spoon while she was still young and willing to continue trying. This spoon that attaches to a squeeze bottle was a very good compromise and really helped her, perhaps because of where the food is on the spoon. Also, we started giving her Gerber Puffs at 6 and a half months old and those were really good practice for maneuverability and helped considerably with eating pureed foods as well. It did take a long time and lots of experimentation from Bethany and us. We learned what thicknesses and amounts she could handle and where to put it in her mouth; she learned how to maneuver the food around to avoid her nasal cavity being assaulted with peas and carrots! Occasionally there is still a struggle but we will continue to persevere until her next surgery.
Bethany is 8 months old now and what a happy, content baby she is! So sweet and cuddly, she will fall asleep in someone's arms or in her own bed. Also she is not a demanding personality in any way; even to the point where we feel like we are pushing her to eat a decent amount. At the same time, she is curious and eager to try things and investigate the world around her. What a delightful child she has been!
Last month we went to the Cleft Palate Clinic here in town and met with a team of doctors. Bethany had fluid in her ears and was put on antibiotics for 2 weeks. The fluid cleared up some and now it is a matter of closely monitoring her hearing and getting her ears checked regularly. There were no other concerns. Bethany seems to be doing well.
Last month we went to the Cleft Palate Clinic here in town and met with a team of doctors. Bethany had fluid in her ears and was put on antibiotics for 2 weeks. The fluid cleared up some and now it is a matter of closely monitoring her hearing and getting her ears checked regularly. There were no other concerns. Bethany seems to be doing well.
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