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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

mild tongue tie/ upper lip tie but no nipple pain?

112 replies

Clarella · 17/03/2013 02:41

this has been suggested and I'm asking for a referral but I've never really had any pain except a mildly cracked nipple. lo has all the associated issues though and we're looking into reflux at the mo. he certainly has a top lip tie and seems to have limited tongue motility. (according to an lll leader though only at mo through images I sent to her)

I have a top lip tie I realise and a gap in front teeth.

he's 14 weeks old and breast feeding can be distressing for both of us. he's exclusively breast fed.

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trekxc · 17/03/2013 02:50

My DS, now 5, fed for over 2 years with a tongue tie. It isn't always painful.

Having said that we did have lots of problems, but in hindsight and since having another baby it's clear that was largely due to my massive oversupply.

Worth contacting your local infant feeding adviser, usually a specially trained midwife based in hospital (mine was IBCLC and I so wish I'd known about her with my first baby! ) Good luck :)

flatmum · 17/03/2013 02:55

My ds 2 had severe tongue tie (90%) and bf fine. My ds3 had moderate ttonge tie and was a nightmare. My advice is get it snipped ASAP and then you can rule it out as a contributing factor in any bf issues

Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 19:42

thanks for your responses. is 14 weeks too late? well, it'll be more if it is and is snipped.

did either of you have upper lip tie?

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Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 19:43

I've also had over supply issues including strong let down which may have masked the tt/lt

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Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 19:47

wow two years trek! with a tongue tie is amazing! what problems did you have and how did you best deal with them? I strangely find that lying down in bed seems to get the best latch (he's more still too) but it's not ideal as he's v used to it now! I know more upright would be better but I think he's going to need better head control

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TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor · 17/03/2013 20:03

Hi clarella, I've been having the same problems as you, over supply, fast letdown and this week green poo. After reading your OP I checked LO's mouth and found that she has a full upper lip tie. I'm wondering if she's tongue tied too. Everything is suddenly falling into place. She makes a clicking sound when she drinks from the breast and loses her latch all the time.

Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 20:18

hi toomany!!

yes bf is some days a nightmare. but I've not had a diagnosis yet and honestly don't know if lip tie an issue BUT it would explain all our probs ....

will put some links on in a bit just feeding at mo

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Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 20:25

I think we still cluster feed in eve due to day time issues.

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Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 20:34

www.tonguetie.net/

see exaggerated latch here: www.slideshare.net/bibliotecavirtualam/20060405104105

thefunnyshapedwoman.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/introducing-maxillary-labial-frenulum.html?m=1

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2012/01/mild-tongue-tie.html?m=1

I'd contacted our local top lll leader asking about reflux (infant gavisgon has helped but caused even more wind which we really don't need) and she suggested mild tongue tie and lip tie. she said to get hv to fax our local specialist consultant for a referral stating feeding issues. I imagine you could try the same?

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minipie · 17/03/2013 20:47

DD had posterior TT and upper lip tie. apparently the two are often found together. i only had soreness when DD was going through a growth spurt, but it was brutal at those times.

we had the TT snipped at 16 weeks but the dr said the lip tie (in our case) was ok to leave. it took a couple of weeks to see improvement but now feeding is SO SO much better.

previously feeding was a bit like a wrestling match, DD slipped off all the time and had to be brought back to the breast, she got more and more upset and frantic, and took in so much air she had to be winded all the time. feeding was better when my breasts were fuller (as it was easier for her) and when she had just woken up (not sure why, maybe as she wasn't tired).

now, she still clicks a little bit (she has a high palate too which obv can't be operated on) but she stays on and is calm when feeding.

it is rare to find doctors who will operate on lip tie but I know of two in london if anyone wants names.

Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 20:59

oh mini you describe how our bf sessions go though I must admit burping is easier now he's had a bit of gavisgon so I don't know which is the true issue. interesting you say they go hand in hand. he's very noisy when sucking and as I say when we lie down its much easier -I too find its better if just woken up, if he's tired he can't cope. the EASY routine works for this reason plus all wind can be got out before he naps (at least that's the idea) but it gets increasingly difficult at night.

I've blamed somuch of it on me and my over supply issues. still, yet to be diagnosed.

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Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 21:14

milkmatters.org.uk/2011/04/15/hidden-cause-of-feeding-problems-however-you-feed-your-baby/

ok found lots of answers here including the no pain question and also why we've had a bit of help from colief - and your green poos toomany (IF this is the diagnosis).

if I remember correctly your lo is similar age to mine toomany? I wondered if growth spurt causing extra issues at the moment, which could explain your green poo if your lo is struggling to feed well at the mo.

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TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor · 17/03/2013 21:35

I've had such a stressful week with all of these problems, I cried when I found her lip was tied tonight Hmm. Our babies are a very similar age I think, Bronwen was born on 4th Dec. I remember you mentioning the problems you were having because I had also had the exact same problems.

Thanks for posting all of the links, I've read them all. I've been using a similar method to the exaggerated latch by trial and error. I've just read about biological nurturing. I did this the other day, again due to trial and error and she latched.

TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor · 17/03/2013 21:40

And you have also described my BF sessions to mini

TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor · 17/03/2013 21:41

*too

Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 21:55

George was the 10th toomany. oh you poor thing big hugs. I too have been in tears lots this week over feeding. gavisgon definitely helped a tad - on weds and thurs it was the afternoon before we managed a successful feed, on Friday after the i gav he did both breasts twice before 11 am - which he only ever does in the evening. it must just have calmed things down? a bugger to get into him though. and given more wind!

frequently find myself camped out in bed for several hours when we have a good day just letting him feed and sleep and feed again. other days there's a cycle of starting, gulping, freaking, crying, me distracting and calming, burping, calming if painful, trying again and so on. it once took 6 hours. a dummy actually helped a little this week to calm him but we've found now he's a little more satisfied he's not interested. but then we have a week where things calm a bit. I suspect growth spurts just upset the balance and it gets too much.

if it's not tt/lt here it must be reflux.

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Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 21:57

sending Wine Brew Biscuit hugs

it's why I've fallen off the post natal threads - no time to keep up with all the winding!

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Original poster
Clarella · 17/03/2013 21:58

teething is coming too. that can be green poo too. g was gnawing a lot today!

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Original poster
Clarella · 18/03/2013 06:13

how are you today toomany?

we've had a hard night. there is a huge amount of info and advice on kellymom. going to look at latch and position today.

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Original poster
Clarella · 18/03/2013 08:49

found this:

babyslime.livejournal.com/647800.html

note issues at 2.5/3 mo growth spurt xx

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Original poster
Clarella · 18/03/2013 08:50

babyslime.livejournal.com/647800.html

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TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor · 18/03/2013 09:14

Not too bad today. She fed at 11pm and 5.30am. I've been using the exaggerated latch and that seems to be really helping, I can't roll her upper lip back at all but it helps her to take a bigger mouthful under the nipple. She's also a lot happier, no screaming at the breast and her nappies are improving, they're king of green tinged mustard now. I'm feeling a bit calmer now. Hope you are ok, it's good to have someone else to talk to who knows what it's like BrewThanks

Original poster
Clarella · 18/03/2013 09:41

that's good :)

I'm talking to an lbclc lll leader via our fb group so hoping for some answers and a referral to rule it out. she suggested straddling legs upright leaning against you as an idea but he's so tired he can only copewwith lying down. she told me to doubleccheck chin touches boob which maybe I've missed at times.

argh maybe it's me?!

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TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor · 18/03/2013 10:33

How is George's weight? Bronwen has dropped from the 50th to just below the 25th this month, she's put on very little in the last two weeks. I've just left a message for my health visitor to discuss it with her.

Original poster
Clarella · 18/03/2013 11:48

he was born off the scale but quickly put on weight to the 9th and it looked like he was heading to the 25th. but stuck to 9th but we don't think he's put any on in last two weeks. have often though he could be fatter but dint. think that's anything to worry about. however, I spend my whole day attempting to feed him and we seem to have got into this way of lying down. I think when he's tired it's the easiest way for him. it sounds like you have more symptoms than me. I'm asking for a referral to rule it out here (tho definite lip tie) and I need some serious looking at positions. he has a hissy fit when I try anything else at mo.

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