The nurse is teaching a mother of a newborn with a cleft lip how to bottle feed her baby using a special feeding device that has a valve to control the release of milk and a slit nipple opening. The nurse discusses placing the nipple's elongated tip in the back of the oral cavity. Which instructions should the nurse provide the mother about feedings?

A. Squeeze the nipple base to introduce milk into the mouth: This may increase the risk of aspiration if milk flows too rapidly, especially in infants with cleft lips who have difficulty forming a tight seal and managing suck-swallow coordination effectively. B. Position the baby in the left lateral position after feeding: Although side-lying may aid digestion in some cases, it’s not the priority after feeding a newborn with cleft lip. Upright positioning is safer and helps reduce aspiration risk. C. Alternate milk with water during the feeding: Offering water during feedings is not recommended for newborns, as it can displace nutritional intake and may disrupt electrolyte balance. It also offers no benefit for cleft lip management. D. Hold the newborn in an upright position: This reduces the risk of aspiration by improving control of milk flow and promoting effective swallowing. It is the safest and most effective position for feeding an infant with cleft lip.