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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If your baby had a tongue tie division…

33 replies

Watermelonsugarcube · 30/05/2023 08:31

How much of a difference did it make?

Baby is three weeks old and breastfeeding has been challenging for us. I had an emergency c section and was quite poorly for the first few days of his life so took a while for my milk to come in, he was losing weight so having to top up with formula.

I desperately want to EBF (no shade on those who FF, I just don’t want the extra faff of sterilising bottles etc).

Initially thought it was down to low supply but we were referred to the feeding clinic last week who diagnosed a tongue tie and have an appointment in three weeks for a division. So if you had this procedure done, how much of a difference did it make to you breastfeeding journey? I’m really hoping it’ll turn things around for us but also don’t want to pin all my hopes to it and end up disappointed, as not sure how much is the tongue tie and how much is down to low supply. Also considering going private to get a quicker appointment which I can afford but again not sure how much it’s worth it for the sake of three weeks. Help!

OP posts:
Hampshiremum2 · 30/05/2023 08:34

I went from sobbing every time he latched to 9 months of easy feeding! Completely transformed our feeding. I imagine your low supply is because the tongue tie is stopping baby from getting the milk he needs out of the boob, which will make your body think less needs to be produced

Ohshitiveturnedintomymother · 30/05/2023 08:34

Both of mine had a Tt, one more than the other. Both had it snipped and it did make a difference. One really struggled to latch before and lost lots of weight, didn’t get picked up til later on about 9 weeks so was a real struggle. It took a long time to learn how to latch properly after that as it had been wrong so long. The other was done much earlier and I didn’t have any problems.

do be aware though that it was reattach, I know several babies who this has happened to and they won’t re snip so it isn’t always a miracle cure

WomensLandArmy · 30/05/2023 08:34

Hello, I have had three babies need this. If you can afford to go private and get it done sooner I would. My eldest son was older and while I mixed fed I was never able to exclusively breastfeed. The younger two had their snips at a few days old. In all cases it made a difference. Not only to their ability to feed but also in increasing my supply. The youngest did have to have the division done again as a toddler as it had somewhat reattached and was affecting his speech
The snip is very quick and simple for babies, literally a pair of scissors!

Danikm151 · 30/05/2023 08:34

We had to go private due to covid and appointments being cancelled.

it helped my son with being able to drink even from a bottle. I preserved with breast feeding but I don’t think my supply ever caught up really, pump as much as you can. My son would only feed with a nipple shield on, his tt was snipped at 3 weeks

Ringmaster27 · 30/05/2023 08:35

My youngest had a total anterior tongue tie. The tip of her tongue was totally attached to the bottom of her mouth - looked like a little love heart.
I spotted it when she was about 2 days old, and got the division done privately when she was 7 days old, and it made a world of difference from the first feed after the procedure! She was latching perfectly, not even a hint of pain for me. We went on to successfully breastfeed for 2 and a half years with no bottles and no formula.

HungryandIknowit · 30/05/2023 08:36

One it didn't really work for (at about 4 weeks), the other it worked very well for (a few days). I wouldn't wait.

Edwardandtubbs · 30/05/2023 08:37

Sorry but it made no difference for us - I stopped BF at six weeks. Someone said DC had a 'bubble pallette' as well as a tongue tie but tbh we never really got to the bottom of the problem beyond it being excruciating for me!

Ohmy88 · 30/05/2023 08:40

We had to go private due to covid & unfortunately we were never able to get back to EBF, had to top up with a bottle most days & stopped BF altogether at 4m (snip was done at 6w). Not sure if it was down to DS’. difficulty latching properly, the impact the undiagnosed TT had on my supply (although I did manage to pump the shortfall for the bottle feed) or a combination of both. Good luck, and a remember BF is not the be all & end all! Sterilising is a total pain but you’ll have to do this if you pump anyway…

SimonsCow · 30/05/2023 08:41

My second DC had 100% tongue tie. Breastfeeding was painful (never any issues with my first) and there was a lot of slurping even though she put on weight. They were not keen on cutting it but I insisted she needed it. Sure enough feeding was fine after and we carried on for a year. Would never have lasted that long if it was painful every time

WhatInTheFuckery · 30/05/2023 08:52

A huge difference, I had to express from 4 days old, turned out her tongue was 100% tied. Took a lot of work to get her back on to the breast but she's now 13 months and still BF

Bunny2021 · 30/05/2023 09:17

It made a difference to our DS - but it wasn't immediate. Everything I read online before the TT was that 'straight away feeding improved' - for us it took some time. As a PP said - I think he had to re-learn how to latch. For various reasons I was combi feeding anyway - although mostly BF. The main difference for me was that he was able to feed both sides (previously he wouldn't feed on the left so I was also pumping) and I wasn't as sore as he was able to latch correctly. Also - your 'low supply' might be down to them not being able to latch properly, and therefore can't feed fully.

If you can get an earlier private appointment I would - as it will help them sooner.

thejadefish · 30/05/2023 09:21

For me it was an immediate improvement & like a different baby. He was so grouchy and hungry all the time, constantly coming off then on again, occasionally biting. Had him assessed, they did the tt division & fed immediately afterwards (it helps close the wound) he was calm & taking deep drinks, completely different. He didn't show any signs of pain during the procedure either (they let me stay in the room if I wanted to, so I did). He was only 5 days old at the time. Now 10 months old & its been smooth sailing since. Its still possible to build supply up, if baby is better able to feed it should in turn help your supply I believe.

Original poster
Watermelonsugarcube · 30/05/2023 09:22

Thank you very much for all your replies, this has really given me hope. I was sceptical as the midwife who initially referred us to the feeding clinic said she wasn’t sure it’d make much difference as he appears to have good movement side to side, but not up and down. It’s also not painful for me and he looks as though he’s latched well, just constantly hungry and losing weight 😔
Off to google private practitioners

OP posts:
tallcypowder · 30/05/2023 09:28

My dd had hers at 2.5 due to various delays. It allowed her to lick ice cream better. She had a bit of a lisp at that age too. Totally gone now.

Ecosl · 30/05/2023 09:31

My 3rd had TT and made a huge difference. Went private.

Best of luck x

dammiejodger · 30/05/2023 09:55

My son had his revised twice, huge difference in feeding with him. The first latch after the first division was amazing and I couldn't believe the difference.

My daughter has a TT but has never posed a problem for us, plus it was lockdown, so I didn't bother. Wondering if I should've now as she speaks with a lisp, but her speech is excellent. We fed until just after she turned 2.

DIsForDelightful · 30/05/2023 09:56

Night and day and we had it cut at four days old. Had to go private. Wouldn't have managed much longer without but did 2 1/2 years in the end.

dammiejodger · 30/05/2023 09:56

Where are you, OP? I know of a couple of private practitioners, one of which is a very good friend and very experienced @Watermelonsugarcube

Original poster
Watermelonsugarcube · 30/05/2023 10:05

Thank you @dammiejodger I’m in north Hampshire

OP posts:
BeaverLeader · 30/05/2023 10:06

Ds had a posterior tongue tie that "wouldn't make a difference if it was divided". HV and MW alike nobody even believed me until I took him to a specialist lactation consultant at 18w because it was killing me off after months of begging and pleading for assistance with bf.

It was divided at 19w and IMMEDIATELY made a difference. His acid reflux and colic ✨magically✨ disappeared and he actually started sleeping for more than 20 minutes at a time. He could also stick his tongue out after, which he'd never done before and my nipples stopped being bruised, battered and raw. I wonder what kind of speech issues he'd have now if I'd have left it. We certainly wouldn't have bf till he was 14m. (I sound bitter, I am 😭😂)

dammiejodger · 30/05/2023 10:10

Watermelonsugarcube · 30/05/2023 10:05

Thank you @dammiejodger I’m in north Hampshire

I'm in the NW - think this would be a little far for you. Check the IBCLC website for practitioners. Does your hospital have an infant feeding team? They may do it, the waiting list might be a little long though, as is the case here a lot.

olympicsrock · 30/05/2023 10:15

Both of mine had TT. DS1 couldn’t feed, was loosing weight. Chomped like a dinosaur when feeding and howled constantly. After TT snip ( 3 weeks)he fed much better, BF til 9 months.

DS 2 had similar TT, this time I had it snipped earlier. Fed til 13 months. Would recommend treating.

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 30/05/2023 10:21

Go private. You ususally get ongoing support for a few weeks after. The difference it made for me was sobbing every time dc latched to still feeding at 2.5 years.

kikisparks · 30/05/2023 10:24

Didn’t work but she hadn’t ever latched despite my getting all the help I could, and by the time it was cut I think she had developed bottle preference.