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Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Mats Eriksson, Örebro University,
- Second opponent: Professor Marianne Trygg Solberg, University of Agder,
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor II Kristin Bjørnland, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Johannes Espolin Roksund Hov, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor II Kim Alexander Tønseth, OUS - Oslo University Hospital
Summary
The birth of a child with cleft lip and palate may cause uncertainty and concerns for parents. Although multidisciplinary cleft care in Norway is highly regarded and readily accessible, the parents may still face challenges particularly related to infant feeding.
The aims of the thesis were to describe mothers’ experiences of feeding their infants and to explore the impact of early follow-up care provided by specialized nurses. A mixed-method design was used. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with mothers, while quantitative data were used to compare outcomes between parents who received early follow-up care and those who received standard care. Outcomes included satisfaction with care, parental stress and coping, and aspects of infant feeding.
Mothers reported a considerable need for support until feeding became manageable. They described inconsistent information from healthcare professionals and varied experiences with breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and perceptions of “doing their best” as a mother. Support from fathers, family members, and healthcare professionals was important for coping with the challenges.
Parents who received early follow-up care from a specialized nurse were more satisfied with the overall cleft care they received. Their infants had fewer neonatal care admissions, were less likely to use pacifiers, and mothers reported less need to seek cleft-related information online after birth.
Approximately one quarter of parents reported feeding difficulties during the first month and infants received less breast milk than infants in the general Norwegian population. Parental stress and coping were generally within normal ranges, with only minor differences between groups.
Overall, the findings underscore the value of early follow-up care provided by specialized professionals in providing families affected by cleft lip and palate with consistent information, emotional support and practical assistance with infant feeding after birth.
Additional information
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