Aleitamento materno exclusivo em bebês com fissura de lábio e/ou palato

PURPOSE: To investigate exclusive breastfeeding in infants with cleft lip and/or palate and its association with the type of cleft. METHODS: Data recorded by the pediatrician during the first consultation were obtained from 137 clinical charts. The sample consisted of the pediatric records of infants of both genders, with cleft lip and/or palate, born full term and without any other associated anomalies, who arrived for the first consultation between zero and 12 months of age. Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: There was predominance of complete cleft lip and palate in male infants. Subjects' mean age was 53 days, with median of 33 days on the date of first consultation. Exclusive breastfeeding occurred in 7.3% of the total sample - 6.57% in cleft lip group, 0.73% in the cleft palate, and none in the complete cleft lip and palate group. There was significant association between type of cleft and breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: Exclusive breastfeeding is present in only a small part of the total sample of infants with cleft lip and/or palate, and is frequent in infants with incomplete cleft lip.