Lactation specialist / breastfeeding counsellor - Devon

[TreeHuggerMum1]

I am having a real rough time with breastfeeding my 3rd child.
She had a tongue tie op under a GA 11 days ago and has not fed properly since, I've pretty much exhausted all nhs help really so can anyone recommend somebody privately?

Where abouts in Devon are you?

In between Newton Abbot and Torquay.

Can't recommend anyone in Devon (know someone in Portsmouth -www.breastfeedingmatters.co.uk), but can offer sympathies. DS had TT too. Midwives missed it - actually told me he was "lazy feeder" . We literally smuggled private lactation consultant onto ward for a consultation as knew something was up.

Are you managing to get a sustained latch at all?

I managed to exclusively feed for 4 months but it was agony, tt was picked up by me at around 12 weeks and it was an awkward one so needed surgery, first date was cancelled so its been a while coming, the whole procedure was supposed to make things better but now shes refusing to feed at all. I am using calpol syringes to get EBM into her but its so hard as I have two boys aswell.

This lady has been recommended by mumsnetters before and I see she covers the Devon area.

HTH

Hi OP,
I just wanted to offer you some support. My DD had her tongue tie snipped at 2 weeks, though not under GA.

She basically would not latch on for 3 weeks after that. We had some success with nipple shields but not much. I was advised by a LC to just offer her no choice but the breast as she was getting used to the syringe. So we stopped all syringing and just offered the breast constantly. What worked for us was biological nurturing, skin to skin and feeing at every opportunity. Would taking baby to bed with you for a few days over the weekend be a possibility for you? I know it's so hard when you have older children too.

DD did not gain any weight for 2weeks when we went cold turkey on the syringe but (fingers crossed) she seems to be doing ok now.

I know what you are going through, it is so emotional and exhausting.

Best of luck

Also, have you tried any of the breastfeeding helplines to see if there is a counsellor you can see in real life for support? I think you would really benefit from seeing someone regularly and not just as a one off to give you the support that is needed to get through this.

Have PMd you too!

Thank you, I'm in touch with la Leche and also a hopsital feeding specialist but all their ideas aren't working. We did pretty much constant skin to skin last week and nothing happened. Tried hot baths too and she sleeps in a Moses basket next me so I'm always close to her.
Our LL person suggested today withdrawing the syringe and focusing on cup feeding and also suggested using a nursing supplementary feeding system.
I desperatly want her back on. I fed my last LO til 14 months so the thought of ending it all is killing me but I can't carry on like this...

Re Ann dobson, I've emailed her on the off chance that he is visiting Devon any time soon and keep fingers crossed.
X

It sounds like you are doing everything you can and I'm keeping fingers crossed that your DD latches back on soon.

We didn't manage to resolve the latch problem. DS turned puce/screamed/got into a real state every time he even saw a boob coming near him. Our Lactation Consultant concluded that he'd probably been so traumatised by the overly eager (but very misguided) midwives shoving him on, repeatedly, during those first few days. In the end, I expressed all his feeds for almost a year. This upset me terribly at the beginning as I felt our bond would be compromised, but as our LC pointed out, bonding is not solely dependent on BF.

I wish you every good luck. I live in Devon too if ever you need a coffee :)

NMM -= where in Devon are you??
I've managed to get an appointment with a feeding specialist at Torbay Hosp this morning and shes going to try some different teats to get the movement going to see if her tongue is working or not. All fun!

That's great news. I really hope it's a positive experience. Maybe also ask if you can see her a couple of more times; I think another poster already said it would be nice for you to have ongoing support rather than a one-off.

We're in Exmouth, although I work in N. Devon and inlaws live nr Newron Abbot, so we're all over really!

There is a really helpful TT group on Facebook. It's a closed group, but if you PM me, I will get you added on.

Mawbroon - will do, thanks.