Keeping Mateo Fed and Growing
Take the reading one piece at a time. For each piece: read it once, underline the sentence that says what happens, then look up any word in the list. Tap a word to see its definition.
Piece 1 of 2
A nurse records what happens when Mateo tries to nurse, next to a typical newborn (the log is an instructional construct built to make the mechanism visible; the mechanism is grounded in the reviews). Lip seal: a typical newborn's lips wrap the nipple tightly, while Mateo has a gap at the cleft lip and the seal leaks air. Pressure inside the mouth: a typical newborn builds a strong vacuum that pulls milk in, while Mateo builds little to no vacuum. Where milk goes: down the throat for a typical newborn, but some comes back out the nose for Mateo. Time per feeding: about 15 to 20 minutes typically, but over 40 minutes for Mateo, who tires and stops. Weight over three days: a typical newborn gains slowly after day 3, while Mateo continues to lose and regains none.
Piece 2 of 2
The anatomy fact behind the log: to suck, a baby seals the lips and then drops the jaw and tongue to create a closed, sealed space inside the mouth. The roof of the mouth (palate) is the ceiling of that sealed space. An open palate connects the mouth to the nose, so the ceiling has a hole in it, and a vacuum can only build inside a sealed container.
Reading the Research
- Skim the title and abstract first to get the gist.
- Circle the one sentence that states the main claim.
- Box the evidence the authors give for that claim.
- Mark one sentence that confuses you, and move on.
Now put it together: In one or two sentences, say what this whole reading is telling you about Mateo. Then go back to the lesson and fill in the guided notes.