Tongue Tie at 5 months

[leannarose5]

Desperately seeking advice here.

I have been breasfeeding for 5 months now and have had cracked nipples the whole time, because I thought it was normal. Despite the horrendous pain, gasping while feeding I thought all breastfeeding mums were going through it so I got on with it. Anyway recently I found out I'm not supposed to be in agony. I went to my feeding support group and health visitor asked if I'd had tongue tie checked, which I did at birth, and she had another look but said she couldn't tell because baby wouldn't lift her tongue, but that she can see a bit of skin and it could well be that. She referred me to a lactation consultant to look at why, but
I'm having to be referred to a hospital quite far out because no other local hospitals will offer to cut her tongue tie because she is 5 months. When I asked why they said its because her nerve endings are more developed so it may hurt.

What would you do? Will it affect her in later life if I don't get it cut or is it just an issue with feeding? Has anyone had a baby this old get it cut/know much about it? I know I don't know for certain if she has it and I kept the referral because I just want to get to the bottom of it, but I was also told if she's got it they will offer to cut it there and then so I want to go in there with my decision all ready. I can't find any advice on Google and everyone seems to have had it cut at a young age so I don't know what to do ð???

[SnowwyJane]

At first I thought my newborn had a tongue tie because he wasn't feeding for long and apparently it makes it difficult to feed.
If it isn't that noticeable then maybe it isn't such a big problem. I only breastfed for a month and it really hurt me!

Have you not thought about expressing and seeing how she goes?
If it was me I'd try everything before putting my DS through that but of course it all depends how bad it is.

I would deffo try and get it look again and gain till someone can say for definite though

[leannarose5]

I imagine the consultant will be giving me a definite answer at the appointment, but they will also offer to cut it there and then so im hoping to have an answer prepared as I don't want to panic-answer if that makes sense. Expressing isn't really an option long term as it's hard work to sit there with no hands free if she is awake, and she hates day naps ?? plus I don't get much off when I express. I have been looking at tongue tie symptoms and she isn't showing any, it's just the cracked nipples. I'm starting to wonder if perhaps when I had them at the start they have got infected and because I thought it was normal it's progressed. The consultant appointment wasn't just about tongue tie it was about finding out why ive been sore throughout feeding, I just really hope it's something I can solve without putting her in pain as I was hoping to feed until 12 months but this pain for 7 more months does not appeal!!

[McBaby]

We had tongue tie cut at. 8, 12, 14 and 26 weeks there was not difference in the operation and they felt no pain except it being more difficult to restrain them!