At my bloody wits' end!

[peeriebear]

DS (nearly 4wks) is being referred for posterior tongue tie. On the list of possible symptoms/indicators he has about 95% of them! The GP said she would make sure they knew it was urgent.
My problem is the relentless, literally constant feeding. He has been awake since about half six this morning. In all this time he has been feeding. One long, constant feed. If I stop, he roots and cries. If he dozes off and I try and take him off he wakes, rooting and crying. If I try leaving him to settle he quickly escalates to inconsolable screaming. DH has walked him round the block in the pram, walked him round in his arms, inside his coat. He will not sleep. He just wants to feed.
My nipples are fucking sore. One is going all white and one has a great big weepy crack in. I can't express because he is always feeding.
The other day I managed to express 3oz and kept it in reserve for when I really needed it. In the evening when I was sore and exhausted yet again I gave him it hoping he'd feel a bit fuller and settle- no. He drank the lot then wanted to feed straight away- it didn't slow him down at all.
I have had lots of help from MW unit, HV and lactation consultant. I really didn't want to resort to formula, I really didn't but I feel so completely ground down and shattered :(

[GEM33]

Hi Peeriebear, hugs and sympathy. I'm glad your little one is being sorted re the tongue tie, once sorted that will help with the latch and getting a bit more milk inside him.

re lots of feeding and sore nipples. Unfortunately, these little babies have tiny tummies and digest breast milk much quicker than formula so they need lots of feeds. They are growing so much in the first year of their lives they need it. You are giving your baby everything he needs to be the best he can by breastfeeding so well done for persevering. It will feel like your baby is sucking you dry for the first 3 months, this is normal.

Have you got lansinoh nipple cream? That will help with the crack. Maybe you could try a nipple shield on the cracked nipple for a bit of protection while you heal. Also pure vitamin e oil will help it heal.
I too had a huge bleeding cracked nipple for the first 11 weeks, it was hell and the pain is toe curling. once the tongue tie is sorted and check your latch is good will also aid pain free feeding.

Dont give up, youre doing brilliantly, it WILL get better and it will get easier. When I look back at my early feeding days, I just sat and cried in pain I never thought I would be sat here now saying how lovely it feels to feed my 10 month old.

[MigGril]

Have you tried feeding lying down, that way maybe you can get some rest while baby is feeding.

If they don't refure you straight away would private be an option for you? it would be much faster. the board of lactation consultants website has the information for who are trained in cutting tonge tie.

[peeriebear]

Thanks for your replies :) Yes I am using Lansinoh. I've tried feeding lying down but it's really awkward- my ridiculous J cup breasts just make it impossible and it feels like he's nipping all the time.
The MW said when we get the referral letter through, if it's not an immediate appointment just call and ask to go up the list.
Hoping the letter comes through today! Though when my friend and her DS were referred they called her a few days later and offered her a next day appointment (I should be so lucky! She lives in a different county)

[YorkshireRose12]

Hi peerie, sympathies to you from here too. Have you got your referral letter through yet and if so, how soon is your appointment? If it's not come through or isn't soon enough for you, do you know who does the procedure at your local hospital? I'm just asking because I went to a BFing clinic at my local hospital when I was at my wits' end and wanted a second opinion on DS's TT which I had previously been told wasn't bad enough to be interfering with feeding and when I got there it was run by the infant feeding advisors who actually perform the procedure and they did it there and then. It might be different if the cut is done by a consultant at your hospital, but this might be worth looking into just in case.

In the meantime, carry on with the Lansinoh and take painkillers - Paracetamol and ibuprofen are both safe to take while BFing - they can make a real difference. The crack that you've got, is it a narrow deep one, or more like an open wound on the surface of the nipple?

[ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmm]

Trust me from someone who knows! As soon as its cut, (TT) you will feel 10000000000% better and feeding times will improve dramatically.

You just need to look after yourself until you heal and take painkillers ect.. I had exactly the same, the consultant performed the op, it took seconds, and DS fed straight after to soothe him, it healed quickly (being in the mouth) and he has had no more problems.

Big hugs xx

[ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmm]

Oh and i found that the rugby ball position hurt the least in the meantime though at feeding times before TT was cut i cried from the pain :(

[peeriebear]

Nobody does cutting at my local hosp- we have no paeds and MW unit is very small.
I got the choose and book referral letter through- all the dates offered were from 12th NOVEMBER and beyond! Oh, how I laughed... then started desperately calling people... Thanks to MW, GP and the paeds secretary, it has been moved to tomorrow afternoon! Hoo-bloody-rah!

[ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmm]

Oh well done i hope things improve for you soon x

[McBaby]

DD Is eight weeks today and in the same position! Reading your post made me cry! Finally had it confirmed as tt today by specialist they cut it tomorrow! So excited that breast feeding may finally be pain free!

Also would reccomend multi mam compresses very soothing! Have helped me through lots of pain.

Good luck tomorrow

[mawbroon]

peeriebear is there any way you can go private? There is a dentist in Huddersfield who was trained by Dr Kotlow and he uses laser to revise tongue and lip ties.

The problem with many people doing posterior ties is that often they don't cut deep enough and the problems remain.

There is a really good tongue tie support group on facebook

[mawbroon]

Although I am guessing from your name that you are a long long way from Huddersfield!

[peeriebear]

Private's not an option mawbroon. We've been referred to QMC which is nearest to us. (My paternal family are from waaaay up North but I'm in the Midlands :))
We'll see how we go today. I'm wondering how on earth they are going to get DS to let them in his mouth to look let alone cut anything accurately!