Babies born with a cleft lip have a harder time breastfeeding due to lack of suction, which is emotionally and physically taxing both for the baby and the mother. At “Love by Latch” we address this.
Love by latch is a service that aims to improve the breastfeeding experience for mothers of children born with a cleft lip. Breastfeeding a baby with a cleft lip is very taxing both physically and mentally. At love by latch we have created a solution to bridge this gap. This entails a customised nipple attachment that is designed to fill the cleft gap when the baby is breastfeeding. This allows for a better latch and a smoother suction for the baby. This attachment includes a rotating base allowing for various breastfeeding positions. It has adjustable straps that can be easily altered to the mother’s preference. The service can be provided through hospitals so that the custom attachment can be created soon after the baby is born. A scan will be taken of the baby’s mouth which will be imported into SolidWorks software which will then be prepared for 3D Resin printing. The purpose of this design for babies born with a cleft lip is to make breastfeeding possible in a way where skin-to-skin contact is not compromised and neither is the breastfeeding experience. Love by latch is a unique product not found in the market. The only comparisons are feeding bottles with special tips to pour the milk directly into the baby’s mouth. This involves formula or breast pumping milk poured into the bottle, which eliminates the option for skin-to-skin contact and adds an extra step to the process. Love by latch offers mothers a choice to breastfeed their children through providing hospitals with a solution that is non- invasive for children with this condition.
You Tube link: https://youtu.be/iZSPeI7yNTg
Business_report_ Love_by_Latch.pdf