Hospitalization, breast-milk feeding, and growth in infants with cleft palate and cleft lip and palate born in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if the duration of postpartum hospitalization, duration of breast-milk feeding, and growth during the first year of life in infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and cleft palate (CP) are comparable to infants without facial clefts.

DESIGN

Prospective data collection using a registration chart developed by the authors.

SETTING

Special health care of infants with CLP/CP born in Denmark.

PARTICIPANTS

All mature infants with CLP/CP born in 2003 and 2004 were included. Of 165 infants, 115 participated in the study.

INTERVENTION: In Denmark, parents of children with CLP/CP receive counseling. This counseling is managed by specially trained health visitors/nurses and is initiated at birth. The counseling seeks to support parents' confidence in having an infant with CLP/CP and to initiate a relationship between the infant and the parents.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of postpartum hospitalization, duration of breast-milk feeding, and weight and length at birth, 5 months of age, and 12 months of age.

RESULTS

Hospitalization was 4 days and comparable to that of infants without CLP/CP. The infants with CLP/CP received breast milk but for a shorter period compared with infants without CLP/CP. Weights at birth, 5 months of age, and 12 months of age were identical with Danish growth references.

CONCLUSION

The authors find the results satisfactory and believe that the counseling provided by the health visitors/nurses plays a part in the results.