As a parent you only want the best for your child. If you child was born with a cleft lip, we at Associated Plastic Surgeons & Consultants can help correct this problem so that your child lives a healthy life. By undergoing this type of surgery at a young age, your child will be able to eat, drink, and speak like normal with minimal help. As one of the most important parts of the surgical process, it’s important that you as the parent know exactly what you can expect from recovery. Read on to learn more.
No Sucking
The hardest part about recovering from cleft lip surgery is that your child won’t be able to suck anything for about 10 days following their surgery— this includes breast feeding, a bottle nipple, a pacifier, and their thumb. To help keep your child hydrated and comfortable they will receive IV fluids and you can also use an eyedropper filled with water to help keep their mouth moisturized.
Only Side Sleeping
When babies sleep they tend to lay either flat on their backs or flat on their stomachs. However, when they are recovering from cleft lip surgery should be positioned on their side so that they don’t scratch their stitches while they are sleeping. Additionally, we encourage parents to put little mittens on their babies while they sleep so that they aren’t able to scratch or pick at their stitches during the middle of the night.
Careful Play Time
As a part of how babies learn, they like to put just about everything in their mouths to help them differentiate between an object and food. However, while they are recovering from cleft lip surgery, they shouldn’t be placing any toys in or near their mouths because it could cause damage to their incision site.
The most important part about your child’s recovery from cleft lip surgery is that they are comfortable and that their stitches have time to heal. As a parent, this recovery period can feel like a full-time job. Luckily with the help and support of our staff at Associated Plastic Surgeons & Consultants, you won’t feel alone. To learn more about recovery from this procedure or to schedule a consultation for your child, contact Associated Plastic Surgeons & Consultants today!
