![]() The one article below can be downloaded and will help you better understand how you can better feed an infant with torticollis. The clavicle, which is attached to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, also serves to anchor the hyoid bone that connects to the tongue muscle. As the head is restricted in its ability to freely move, nursing in certain positions can be extremely difficult for the infant and mother. This tighten will cause the head to turn in the same direction as the side with the muscle tension. Torticollis or the twisting of the head and neck, is caused by the muscle tightening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. A similar issue can occur in the trachea, which is another portion of the airway below the larynx, and is referred to as trachomalacia. A referral to an otolaryngologist or more commonly known as an ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat) physician can help evaluate the malformation and better assess the severity and any need for treatment. Your pediatrician or lactation consultant may help in diagnosing this malformation from a clinical history and how the infants sounds when they breathe. The term means a soft of floppy airway, which can complicate the ability to breathe and consequently the infant’s ability to produce a cyclic suck-swallow and breathe cycle. Laryngomalacia is a congenital malformation of the larynx or portion of the airway. Some pre-mature infants may need some extra time to more fully develop their suck-swallow-breathe technique before they become efficient. This cycle must occur in a precise order and requires a great deal of coordination and communication between higher brain functions and the rest of the body. This allows the newborn to extract milk from the nipple, swallow the milk and then breathe air into the lungs in a precisely timed and rhythmic cycle. Typically after the 38th week of development the infant will be able have a fully function suck-swallow-breathe mechanism in place. Pre-mature infants, depending on their gestational age, may or may not have challenges after birth adjusting to the world and being able to nurse. ![]() Pre-mature babies Not all babies decide to show around their due dates and some like to make an earlier appearance than expected. ![]()
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