Not sure what's wrong or what to do about it!

[Titsalinabumsquash]

DD is 13 weeks old, she's breastfed on demand. I've breastfed my last 2 babies for a year each so I have a fairly good grasp on things I think.

I can't shake the feeling something isn't right though and I don't know what's causing the problem or if there is one and what if anything to do about it. I'm aware that's vague and doesn't make a lot of sense but I will list the things I think are important.

. She can't pull her top lip back, it's tied so she really struggles to get a deep latch and create a seal, we get lots of clicking and coming on and off, she feeds from the end of the nipple - luckily this doesn't cause me pain or cracking.

. She still feeds so much. For a very short time but frequently, she's a real Velcro baby.

. she's very sicky more than possessing I'd say, it's free every feed and I'm having to change me and her several times a day because we end up soaked where the milk comes back, it's not curdled or anything, it's like it is when she's drinking it.

. We've both been treated for thrush once but I'm not sure if it's back, I have no symptoms and she's not got nappy rah like before no white patches anywhere in her mouth except inside the top lip where she also has a permanent callus.

. She's growing well after a slow start but she still seems unsettled with feeding.

Any advice ?

[Booboostwo]

Someone more knowledgeable will reply soon I am sure but here's my two pennies worth.

Could she have a top lip tie? This often goes with a tongue tie but it can occur on its own.

Have you tried the exaggerated latch?

Could the constant feeding be creating over supply problems which in turn cause the vomiting? Sorting out the latch may help with this.

Can you access some RL support? I think it would help if you had your latch checked.

[Titsalinabumsquash]

She does have a top lip tie but the hv just shrugged it off and said there's no such thing and it wouldn't cause a problem anyway, it's only tongue ties that are problematic abs since she's growing they're not worried.

Her latch has always been shallow, she won't/can't open her mouth wide and 'gape' like my others did and they Keats used to curl the bottom and top lip but she doesn't do either.

I do have a huge over supply problem, the amount of times I've been driving or something and will go from dry to Niagara Falls down my front is silly, I have to travel with spare bra/top and a stack of breastpads.

There is a MILK cafe near me but it's closed for the holidays and my health visitor isn't all that helpful, she said if I'm really that worried I can chose to bottle feed her but she's not going to advocate it.

[Booboostwo]

I bet you anything the lip tie with a possible tongue tie is the source of your problems. Sorry to say your HV is talking rubbish. I would get to a lactation consultant to check what is happening.

[Booboostwo]

Loads of information on kellymom
kellymom.com/health/baby-health/bfhelp-tonguetie/

[curlykale]

Agree with booboos - sounds like classic tongue tie symptoms, probably posterior tt if you can't obviously see it by looking in the mouth. Probably having breastfed before you have good latching technique which helps get round it to a certain extent, but don't knock your instinct as it sounds like you're right. It needs treating as it won't improve by itself and it will feel like a constant battle to breastfeed.

The lip tie is a bit controversial as some believe in treating it, others not, but the shallow latch and other problems may be relieved by treating the tt and relieving the tension. Fwiw I've had two tt babies and treated the lip tie too - it made a difference but really the tt was the most important imo.

Easiest and quickest way to sort will be to find a lactation consultant. If you do treat the tt then it's important to see an osteopath as well - tt affects more than just the tongue and you may not see results without addressing the tension that can result from the tt.

[Titsalinabumsquash]

How would I go about finding a lactation consultant and is it likely to be expensive?

[Booboostwo]

Try her to see if their is a support group near you

www.laleche.org.uk/content/get-support

[Booboostwo]

Gosh what a mess that was! I meant 'here' and 'there'.

[curlykale]

Try here www.lcgb.org. Also try the Facebook page Tongue Tied Babies Support Group as someone may have a local recommendation. Where are you? If in/near London I can recommend if you like? As for cost it's probably dependent on where you are but in the region of £100-200 for initial visit including treating the TT (which can be done on the spot). Follow up visits would be less but are vital to ensure the tie doesn't reappear.

No experience with this personally but I think you can get a referral through your GP (or HV although yours doesn't sound great!) but this might take time...at least weight gain is ok and you're not in pain so things aren't quite so urgent - you could try this route and see if it works. However be mindful that tt is better treated sooner rather than later. If you go this route though you need some follow up and as I mentioned, osteo treatment, as the chance of success is much lower if you just snip the tt and then nothing further.

[curlykale]

But yes la leche league also a good suggestion as they can point you in the right direction.

Whoever you speak to, don't let yourself be fobbed off with things like "the tongue looks like it's moving fine" etc. The important thing is how it functions not what it looks like on a quick glance. To diagnose tt they need to do a proper assessment, asking you the right questions (shallow gape, clicking, callus on lip, unsettled/feeding often) looking properly in the mouth, feeling under the tongue, how the baby sucks etc.

Go with your instinct! It's possibly not tt but your description really sounds like it is. As I'm sure you've researched, it can lead to further feeding and speech problems later on so is worth addressing early. Good luck!!