After Cleft Palate and/or Lip Repair
- For the first three weeks after your child's surgery, the cleft palate repair is not strong enough to resist damage that could be caused by foreign objects (or finger!). In order to prevent injury, promote healing, and maintain your child's comfort, it is important that you follow these guidelines for the first three weeks after surgery.
- Make sure your child uses a cup or the side of a spoon carefully. DO NOT allow your child to chew on anything.
- DO NOT give your child any hot food or hot fluids.
Fist week
- Full liquid diet including:
Milk juices, well-melted ice cream, slightly warm broth.
You may dissolve gelatin in any of the liquids, but do not feed it in solid form.
Second week
Soft diet that consists of foods “that melt in the mouth” such as: ice cream, sherbets, yogurt, puddings, custards, gelatins, pureed baby foods.
Third week
Soft diet
Fourth week
Usual foods that your child would normally eat.
Activity
Keep your child's activity to a minimum. Any object your child puts in his/her mouth, (including little fingers) could ruin the repair.
Relief of pain
You can expect your child to have mild to moderate pain for a few days. Give pain medication as directed by your doctor.
Problems to report to your doctor right away:
- A fever Temperature over 101
- Severe pain
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Bleeding from the surgical area
- Any direct injury to the repaired palate
- Patients who received general anesthesia should return home from our office immediately upon discharge and lie down with the head elevated until all the effects of the anesthesia have disappeared. Anesthesia effects vary by individual, and you may feel drowsy for a short period of time or for several hours. You should not operate any mechanical equipment or drive a motor vehicle for at least 24 hours or longer if you feel any residual effects from the anesthesia. Do not use appliances or equipment that could be dangerous such as power tools, stoves, burners or lawn mowers. Watch out for dizziness. Walk slowly and take your time. Sudden changes of position can also cause nausea or dizziness. Do not drink any alcoholic beverages. The drugs in your body may cause your reaction to alcohol to be dangerous.