The cleft lip and palate clinic here is one of the best around and our plastic surgeon is really good too. I was really pleased with him. He gave us a lot of information and answered all of our questions about the surgery. It should be booked next week and will take place when Grayson is 3-4 months old. We were surprised that it is more extensive than we had thought. Charlie and I just assumed it would be stitching the lip together, but cleft lip babies are born without one of the muscles under their nose and so the surgery involves a cut up to the nose and several other cuts to pull the skin and straighten his lip and nose. Grayson also has to wear arm splints for three weeks to keep him from scratching his face and messing up his stitches. He will stay in the hospital overnight and we can stay with him. Also, breastfeeding won't be a problem after his surgery. I am so relieved about that!
Whew! That was a lot to take in!
After we ate lunch we went to see the feeding specialist/speech pathologist. She asked a lot of questions about feeding. Grayson has done well. He already exceeds his birth weight, and I am so thankful to be able to breastfeed him. If Grayson had a cleft palate or worse cleft lip, this would probably not be possible.
Grayson has to have a hearing test done (it is mandatory for all cleft lip/palate babies), but I don't think he has any hearing problems. He always jumps when his sister gets loud, ha! Then, she will see him at 6 months and they will continue to follow him as long as we live here.
As much as we hate to put Grayson through the surgery, we did think that we heard a lot of good things at the appointments.
When we were finished, we thought Claire needed a reward. I put her down for a quick nap and Charlie came home a little early so we could take her to the splash park. She was in heaven! I have never seen her so excited and she kept making me look at her wet hair and her wet swim suit.
I love that sweet girl...sooo cute!!!!! :)
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