The baby doesn't feel any pain from the Latham device, and can feed as normal. The infant will usually stop gaining weight while the device is in place. After removal of the device and the cleft lip repair, weight gain should return to normal.
Stories like these are truly amazing. My friends little one had a clef pallet, and has had many surgeries to correct it. I was talking to my friend, and she was telling me that they had a meeting with their plastic surgeon. I had the impression that plastic surgery was only for old women and celebrities. I am glad that their are doctors out there to help kids like this.