Puducherry: The JIPMER Smile Train Cleft Project organised a specialised training programme for nursing students on breastfeeding support for infants with cleft lip and palate, as part of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7).

Held at the College of Nursing, the session, led by Prof. Dr. Vir Singh Negi, Director, JIPMER, aimed to enhance clinical skills in managing feeding challenges in such infants. Around 80 nursing students, along with social workers, faculty members and counsellors, participated.

Cleft lip and palate, caused by incomplete fusion of facial tissues during early pregnancy, can hinder feeding due to poor suction, nasal leakage, choking and fatigue. These difficulties can lead to malnutrition, delayed speech development, dental issues and emotional stress for both mother and child.

The hands-on training covered practical feeding strategies such as modified cradle hold, football hold, dancer hand position, breast compression, cue-based feeding and frequent burping. Indirect feeding methods - including hand expression, breast pumping, cup feeding - and safe breast milk storage were also demonstrated. Special appliances like lip taping and nasoalveolar moulding were introduced.

Prof. Dr. Ravi Kumar Chittoria, Plastic Surgery, underscored integrating cleft care into nursing education, while College of Nursing Principal Dr. M. J. Kumari stressed the role of trained nurses in supporting mothers. Project Director Prof. Dr. Devi Prasad Mohapatra commended the JIPMER-Smile Train partnership in providing free cleft care.

The programme aimed to equip future nurses with the skills to deliver compassionate, effective feeding support, improving health outcomes for affected infants.