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Infant feeding

Possible tongue tie, who do I see?

12 replies

Cydonia · 28/09/2012 16:11

I think my 18 week old might have a tongue tie, though this could just be me reading too much on the internet and jumping to conclusions. He has always fed frequently, every 1 - 2 hours during the day and has now started doing similar at night. He's also getting fussier when feeding and seems frustrated.

I have checked a couple of websites and he does have the following 'symptoms' -
Doesn't stick his tongue out to copy you doing it, though he does do it of his own accord.
Heart shaped tip to tongue. Not pronounced but has definite 'dint' in the tip.
Fussiness
Have recently had a couple of milk blisters.
Loses latch, especially when feeding in public ie out of his comfort zone! I struggle with positioning.
Wind
Often falls asleep feeding only to wake up hungry soon after.

However I guess some of these things are just common in babies anyway. Also the following things don't fit the picture:
Have had no nipple pain until recently
No clicking when feeding
Good weight gain - is only 2nd centile but is following curve perfectly
Until recently does seem to feed normally most of the time.

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? I would like to have him checked, but is there any point going to the GP as it seems a lot of cases go undiagnosed

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Cydonia · 28/09/2012 16:13

Sorry, posted too soon! Basically just wondering where should be my first port of call? We live in the North West, fairly rural so might struggle to see a specialist. Or am I jumping to conclusions?!

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MigGril · 28/09/2012 16:19

have you had any help with breastfeeding at all. Having some one trained watch a whole feed from start to finish to rule out any positioning issues first.

Probably first port of call would be your local breastfeeding support group. they are often biases in Childers centures.

Your right that if you want to have rouge tie ruled out then your gp isn't the best place to go. If your lucky your HV mite be able to help with this. or a privet assessment by a trained lactation consultant.

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mawbroon · 28/09/2012 16:32

You don't have to have all of the symptoms for there to be a tongue tie.

Both DSs are tied and the symptoms were completely different.

I would suggest contacting Milk Matters and let them advise you of the best options in your area.

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Cydonia · 28/09/2012 18:59

Thanks for the replies. We do have a local BF support group, they watched me feed him a while ago, before I had thought about tongue tie. They suggested trying a biological nurturing position as when I did cradle hold they said DS nose was squashed up against me and his chin wasn't tilted back like it should be. I tried the BN position ( at home ) but couldn't get on with it, I have large soft boobs so just ended up suffocating DS! I will maybe try there again and see what they say, but will look up the others too.
It's hard as could be other explanations for most of the symptoms, he's teething and also probably growth spurting so could just be that making him fussy.

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mawbroon · 28/09/2012 19:57
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Cydonia · 30/09/2012 11:49

The more I look at him the more I think he has. I've been watching his tongue and he can't stick it out over his bottom lip, if he sticks it out at all he pushes the lip out with it. I wonder if it's starting to cause more problems now that he has two bottom teeth?

I'm going to ring Milk Matters tomorrow, but I don't know if we'll be able to afford to see someone privately. Plus DP is not keen on the idea of the operation.

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mawbroon · 30/09/2012 12:32

I don't want to frighten you, but maybe show your husband this

DS1 is almost 7 and he has had no end of problems from a tongue tie which I only discovered last year. The incorrect swallowing pattern has created a high palate which he is about to get orthodontic treatment for. The high palate has caused ear trouble and difficulty breathing through his nose because the palate takes up the room needed for the eustacian tubes and the nasal passages.

Directly linked to the tongue tie, he has suffered from severe reflux and bloating, allergy and intolerance, sleep problems (he didn't sleep through until school and suffered spells of sleep apnoea) and problems with certain solids amongst other things.

It's not just about breastfeeding!!

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Cydonia · 30/09/2012 18:33

I should be able to talk him round if anything needs to be done, he's just a worrier! Hmm DP has sleep apnoea and noisy breathing and has constant indigestion, maybe I should check his tongue too if it's hereditary!

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mawbroon · 30/09/2012 19:06

Book them in together for frenectomies! You might get buy one get one free Smile

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Seriouslysleepdeprived · 30/09/2012 20:53

I discover I am tongue tied after having DS's dine. I have lots of gastric/reflux issues which I now assume are related...

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browneyesblue · 30/09/2012 21:05

There is a list of places where tongue ties can be snipped here

If there is nowhere near you, maybe you could contact your local hospital and ask to speak to the Infant Feeding Advisor.

There is further info here about the clinic at the Royal Oldham, which treats babies across the north east.

Good luck :)

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Cydonia · 30/09/2012 23:04

Thanks Browneyesblue, that's useful. There is a hospital an hour from us on the list but it has a 3 month age limit, which is annoying. The next nearest is up to 4 months. I wonder why that is? I guess maybe if it's NHS they only want to do the most serious ones and if you've got past 3 months without starving your baby it can't be that bad? I'm still hoping I can just see someone knowledgable and they can say DS doesn't have a tongue tie, then I can relax!
Going to be spending some time on the phone tomorrow I think!

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