Tongue Tie

[CageBird]

Thanks again so much for all the replies and suggestions on my melt-down post from yesterday. Just for a little update, I've kept at it apart from one feed in the night last night where DH gave him formula and I had a snatch of sleep. My nipples are both completely 'popped' at the ends and feeding is agony.

Saw LC again this morning who said that the kind of damage is very typical of tongue tie, and she has suspected one but it's been hard to get a look at.

So I'm expressing for now because it's impossible to maintain a latch, however good. Fingers crossed we manage to get referred to have it snipped ASAP.

Does it hurt them to have it done?

Hi CageBird, I didn't see your previous thread, but my DS had tongue tie when he was born. We had it snipped when he was 16 days old and he was fine. Didn't seem to hurt him at all. He was wrapped in a blanket (to keep him still), a nurse held him and the specialist snipped the tie with some tiny scissors. I BF him straightaway afterwards, and he was fine. I found that it massively reduced the pain I was experiencing when feeding, and am still feeding him now (17 months).

I think older children need to be sedated for the procedure, but in a newborn there's no need. Good luck

Thanks for that. I feel all wobbly at the thought of doing that to my tiny baby (5 days old)!! But if it helps the feeding then it needs to be done. Looks like Thursday is the day...

I felt wobbly too - DS was about 8 days old, cried for a moment (very scarey for me and DH!) then latched on like a dream and has been feeding brilliantly (and constantly!) ever since!

Nearly 5 weeks and totally worth it.
Good luck!

Another wobbler here :) DS was 11 weeks, and it was hard to tell if it was the procedure that upset him, or being held down. The younger the baby, the easier it is for them though. Some of the littler babies don't even wake up.

I was told it was the equivalent of getting your ears pierced - that the discomfort was over almost as soon as it was done. He cried a little, then fed. He was absolutely fine by the time he had finished feeding.

DS is now 5 months, and bf is going brilliantly so I don't regret it a bit.

Our little one was 6 days old. She didnt really bat an eyelid; and feeding straight afterwards was so good it made me cry to think how much it hurt before.
she is now 12 weeks and thriving.

one note- it did bleed quite a lot, alarming when mixed with saliva and milk. also- she has a little white mark under her tongue still- and it looked raw for the first 3 weeks.

xx

How are things going, CageBird? I hope the snip wasn't too traumatic for you (and your LO) and things are getting a bit easier.