When providing postoperative care for a child with a cleft palate, the nurse would place the child in which of the following positions?

Explanation

•After a cleft palate repair, the child should be placed lying on their side to facilitate drainage and maintain a patent airway.

•While in Recovery, the child is placed on its abdomen to facilitate drainage as this is more effective drainage than side-lying.

•Infants with a cleft palate cannot suck effectively because pressing their tongue or a nipple against the roof of their mouth could force milk up into their pharynx, leading to aspiration.

•If the child is placed in the supine position, he or she may aspirate. Trendelenburg will increase the risk of aspiration.

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