Feeding considerations in infants born with cleft lip and palate

The Effect of Nursing Care Provided to Turkish Mothers of Infants Born With Cleft Lip and Palate on Maternal Attachment and Self-efficacy: A Quasi-Experimental Study

PURPOSE

The present study evaluated the effect of the nursing care provided to the mothers of the infants born with a cleft lip and palate (CLP) until the time of cleft palate (CP) repair surgery, on maternal attachment and self-efficacy.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The present study was designed as a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test control group design. The study included 32 mothers whose infants were born with CLP and had undergone CL repair surgery. Nursing care was provided to the mothers and the infants included in the study group through a total of seven home visits over a period of nine weeks. The data for the study were collected using a socio-demographic form, a home-care needs evaluation form, the Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI), and the Parental Self-Efficacy Scale (PSE).

RESULTS

The scores for the mothers in the intervention group increased as the visits progressed, and it was observed that by the end of the ninth week, the difference between the mothers in the intervention group and those in the control group in terms of post-test MAI and PSE had become statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing nine weeks of home-based nursing care to the mothers and the infants has the potential of reducing the problems experienced by the mothers of infants born with CLP.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Obtaining a better understanding of the barriers to the nursing care provided to the mothers of the infants born with CLP in-home setting would contribute immensely to the development of appropriate nursing-care practices.

Parenting Stress in Turkish Mothers of Infants With Cleft Lip and/or Palate

Objective:

To explore parenting stress and factors affecting the mothers of infants with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in Turkey.

Design and Participants:

The study compared mothers of infants born with CL/P (n = 90) with mothers of healthy infants (n = 90). Mothers completed the data collection form, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

Results:

Mothers of infants born with CL/P had higher mean parenting stress scores than the control mothers. A significant negative relationship was found between social support and parenting stress for mothers of infants born with CL/P but was not related for control mothers. Among mothers with an infant with CL/P, the mean parenting stress scores were higher for mothers preoperatively than mothers responding postoperatively. Among mothers with an infant with a cleft, higher stress was found for diagnosis after birth, not breastfeeding, feeding difficulties, lack of fathers’ support, perceived difficult infant temperament, blame, anger, and concern for the future.

Conclusion:

Parenting stress was higher and social support was lower for mothers of infants with a cleft. Treatment teams can design interventions aimed at factors related to stress, such as addressing feeding issues, teaching coping skills, and linking to social support.

The transition of breastfeeding children with cleft palate and lip among women

Abstract Objective: To discuss the maternal transition in the breastfeeding process of children with cleft lip and palate, from the perspective of the transition theory. Method: Qualitative research of the case study type. The semi-structured interview was used as a data collection instrument. The results were analyzed from the Transition Theory. Results: The participant presented the transitions: situational, developmental and health-illness due to the change of social roles, the need to care for the child with malformation and the changes in her life due to her child's illness. It was identified, in the participant, the difficulty of exercising maternal breastfeeding care, interfering in its developmental and situational transition. Conclusion and implications for practice: The transitions were ineffective in taking into account the transitions covered. The presence of a nursing professional in the evaluation, follow-up and supplementation of the mother in the suckling of children with cleft lip and palate is essential to achieve the healthy transition.