It usually carries a negative connotation so we do not encourage its use. But it can be managed, provided the parents are given appropriate training and provided appropriate bottles and nipples are used. The child with an unrepaired cleft can learn to feed normally. I shouldn't say normally, they learn to compensate for the presence of the cleft. Those problems are usually short-term since a cleft lip is usually repaired at three months of age and a cleft palate is usually repaired at 12 months of age, so any problems caused by the cleft should not last longer than one year.
Surgery involves moving tissue from the edges of the cleft into the cleft area.
It is rare that tissue is needed from elsewhere in the body to close a cleft. Families who need to know more about cleft repair should be advised to talk with their surgeon. The American Cleft Palate Foundation provides a wide range of literature written by professionals for families about cleft palate and the problems associated with cleft palate. Many of the publications that are available through the Cleft Palate Foundation can be obtained through the website. They are all free of charge.