Breastfeeding and tongue tie dilemma

[Elsiesm0m]

Hello, this is my first post, although I have found mums net very useful for a long time now, I hope you can help me. Following two rounds of IVF my little girl was born in November 2014. I have always been set on breastfeeding for at least 6 months and am currently 10 weeks in and struggling. I have seen many breastfeed specialists and feel that I understand technique well and indeed occasionally get a good feeding session with my LO. In the early days it was identified that she has very slight tongue tie but I was advised not to get hung up on it as it was slight and unlikely to have an impact. I have now spoken to further specialists who say that despite it only being slight, it can have a huge impact and that I should get it snipped.

Because of the issues I have had with feeding, in order to ensure she is getting enough food, I have supplemented with formula, which she takes happily. I have her booked in to have the tongue tie procedure done but am concerned that this is not a pleasant procedure and am weighing up the pros and cons of having it done in order to continue breastfeeding. If it it doesn't work will I be putting my LO through something unnecessarily just because I am hell bent on continuing feeding this way? I know when she bottle feeds I miss that connection that I have grown to love (even when it is difficult) when I feed her myself. I don't want to do something because of my own emotional attachment to it that puts her though something unpleasant. On the other hand I also feel that 6 months of breastfeeding is a very good start in life for her, but is it any better than 10 weeks?

I would really love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position and understand the decision they made at this point and how they reached it. Thank you ??

[katandkits]

Both my kids had a slight tongue tie which made bf painful for me. They both got it snipped in the first two weeks of life. The doctor told me it had no nerves in it so it wasn't going to hurt, in fact neither baby cried at all so I believe he was right. Bf a doddle afterwards.

[katandkits]

Also tongue tie can affect speech in future so I didn't want to risk that, thought it better to sort it as a baby

[linzi54]

Both mine have tongue ties, ds1's is slight so didn't get it snipped. Looking back I think it did impact bf. Ds2's tongue tie was so bad it was snipped a couple of days after birth and made a huge difference. It did bleed a lot and he cried but I fed him straight away and he was fine.

I would say go for it, it really will make things easier. I know it's hard to see them in pain but I think the pros outweigh the cons.

[3bunnies]

Go for it. Ds has a tongue tie - fairly minor and for the first 9 months everyone thought I was slightly bonkers but then it was confirmed but was deemed to late to bother doing much about. I fed him for 18 months but it was never as comfortable as it was with the girls. He is now 5, has a slight speech impediment, again not enough for anyone to be overly concerned but enough that strangers and even we can't understand him sometimes. I don't know if the two are definitely linked and too late to do much now (well other than SALT). He can now stick his tongue out but it isn't as natural for him.

If a time machine and a pair of scissors would sort it then I would do it. If only to avoid the feeling that I maybe should have pushed them earlier and not just believed the 12yr old midwife when I said to her that I thought he had tongue tie. Maybe feeding him would always have been slightly uncomfortable, maybe his ideas would still be to quick for his mouth to keep up but at least I wouldn't be wondering if a simple snip could have fixed it. Don't worry I don't think about it often, just the occasional musings.

[bronya]

Both of mine had 75% tt. Both hardly noticed when it was snipped, then fed with no problems thereafter.

[MissYamabuki]

I would go ahead with the snip. DS has a slight tongue tie. In our case it does affect feeding but our HV refused to refer us for a snip as his weight gain is good and according to her it is unlikely to affect his speech in future Hopefully she is right.

[Elsiesm0m]

Thank you so much. You have all been very helpful and reassuring. I do feel breastfeeding is still the way to go and that this will help.

I am also conscious of speech and eating difficulties that can occur with tongue tie and want to avoid them at all costs. Thank you

[Cavort]

My DD had a posterior TT. It did not stop her feeding and she was gaining weight well, but I had blanched nipples and she would make a clicking noise while feeding meaning she was taking in air as well which lead to extra wind after feeds.

The TT was cut at about 6 weeks. It was a very tiny, simple snip which took a few seconds or less and she cried for less than 20 seconds afterwards. I really don't think it hurts at all.

I am so glad we got it done.

[OliviaRinHerts]

Hi

We had a slight tongue tie which didn't need cutting (I would have had it some mind you).

Breatsfeeding if you can do it is amazing. If you can't then at least you've tried. We had a nightmare first month Breastfeeding but with help we Managed. I nearly have up at two weeks but Ds is five months and I don't eat to stop! We also initially supplemented with one formula feed a day to relieve the sore nipples and that was a god send for us although some midwives said it would affect my supply. I'm sure it can but thankfully it didn't for us.

10'weeks is certainly a great .. No a fantastic start so well done for lasting so long under difficult circumstances.

[toomanypasswords]

My DD is nearly 3 weeks old and had her tongue-tie snipped at 2 weeks' old. She was fine. It took less than 5 minutes and she wasn't crying when they gave her back to me. She fed straightaway and fell asleep. She sticks her tongue out a lot more this week and seems to be feeding better - it's less painful for me and she put on more weight in 4 days than she did in the week prior to the snip. i'm glad we did it.

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

Getting my 8 weeks old done on Mon it was notified at birth n then daily every time he was checked in hosp post my c section then I had daily midwife visits for my health n explained issues Inc at day 14 being sent to GP for thrush treatment which didn't help. Day 11 I also saw a hv who just smiled and said all normal.

Hv at 5weeks just said yes ok when I said shall I see gp for reflux n I was querying cmpi I may as well have spoke to Xmas tree.

Gp 1 reluctant to do anything with reflux as gaining lots weight eventually px gaviscon

Gp ny own saw at 6weeks check and would only continue gaviscon didn't think issues related to tongue tie

Hv 3 at 6weeks check listed all problems- painful nipples, deep breast pain, cut glass pain on nipples when feeding, latching on n off, falling off when feeding, screaming when feeding, never finishing a feed or getting enough so barely naps, frequent waking at night hrly was good. ShE asked if tongue tie check I said yes he has one so she said would get gp to refer as likely problem.

2 days later I go to a bf group n they suggest going to a infant feeding specialist who does a clinic every Wed n get me in the following Wed.

See gp again as reflux bad get ranitidine and told he has now done referral and its about 4weeks to be seen!

See infant feeding specialist Wed just gone n she says will get me in with consultant on Mon to have procedure.

Consultant Secretary rang me that afternoon and we are booked in.

I too have really read up on it and feel it needs to be done we cannot continue as we are and wish a health professional earlier on had recognised the issues were linked.

[Elsiesm0m]

Good luck Eastmidswarricknightnanny, it was interesting to read your journey although I'm sorry to hear it. I was also treated for thrush but have since found that the pain and symptoms I was experiencing were a result of the tongue tie.

There seem to be many views from clinicians and specialists on what affect tongue tie has but when you read the real womans experience it seems it does have an effect 99 times out of 100.
Thank you everyone, I can relate to all of your experiences withe the clicking, sore nipples as well as bobbing on and off boobs, slipping off just to suck on nipple. Nightmare so hoping Tuesday will help us turn a corner. Thanks again all X

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

Good luck Tue Elsie

Will let you know how Mon goes

[VashtaNerada]

Just for anyone reading who makes a different decision, DS had tongue-tie which I chose not to get snipped and changed to bottles. He's now a gorgeous toddler with very good speech, and it's not something I ever think of now. Good luck for anyone getting it done though!

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

Had done today over v quick n then fed in another room was at hospital less than half hr.

[Elsiesm0m]

Am glad it went well. I hope the feeding improves now for you and little one is ok X

[tinymeteor]

I put it off for 7 weeks because her weight was fine so it seemed like putting her through something just for my sake. Wish I'd done it sooner, it made all the difference for feeds and the procedure itself was no big deal. She cried more after her jabs frankly. Go for it OP, wanting to breastfeed is not selfish!

[Elsiesm0m]

Hi all thanks again for your help. We had it done yesterday and although a little unsettled she was fine later and is good this morning. Latching not yet perfect but a marked improvement so I think it was the right thing to do ??????