Tongue tie snip has made breastfeeding MORE painful. Any ideas?

[PollyIndia]

Question is in the thread title. We had the TT snipped a week ago and breastfeeding is now excruciating again ... I wish I hadn't done it. Does it just take time to relearn latch? At night particularly I just want to cry (and do!)

Was just reading your other thread.

It can take time to relearn to latch and changing positions may help.

I found that once the nipples hurt that it became a self fulfilling prophecy and so would hurt for maybe the first few minutes each time and so I would wait for five minutes, if it continued to hurt I would re attempt a position.

If you feel confident that the latch ticks all the boxes then it maybe the positioning that will help the most.

With my first he had a tongue tie that loosened gradually and when that started to happen at about 9months and was when I got the most pain and discomfort (I did experience it at the start too but managed that hurdle better than when it started to change), bleeding nipples and cried every feed (and at 9 months there are a lot less feeds so I can only imagine your pain). I found lying down the most comfortable position and lots of deep breaths to relax me and breath through the pain. Tension does not help when feeding and in my experience only ever made it more painful.

Keep seeking the breast feeding support. I think you deserve a medal to keep going as you have been. If you want to continue do so but it is also OK to stop and FF or express if you want to.

Hope that helps.

It probably is the latch to be honest, as my nipple cracks have healed. It's the vasospasm that is causing the pain now, and that must be from the latch... Though it looks ok and nobody can advise me what I could do better. Lying down hurts too much for me.

Big sigh.... I think I might have to admit defeat. I have expressed for a feed tonight so will see how we get on with the others.

Thanks...

And thanks for your kind words

Hey Polly, I don't know much as my baby is the same age as yours, but have you tried the fipple? I can't do it but you might have more luck? How about posting a video on here to see if someone can help? I posted some pictures and got some good advice which helped sort out my latch along with watching youtube videos all night.

It's so hard isn't it!

Have you tried ibuprofen and heat pads before and after a feed?

You do seem to have tried everything so I maybe just repeating advice.

One feed at a time. I hope you have a good night with your little one.

I don't think I've read all your posts, so apologies if this doesn't help, but the Kellymom information on vasospasm suggests that where vasospasm is due to an incorrect latch, the vasospasm can persist for a 'short time' even after the latch is fixed. However, you've gone through a lot to get this far, so do what is best for you and your family, and and congratulations on your new baby.

Shouldibecrossabout, I am trying the flipple and it helps during the feed but doesn't alleviate the vasospasm. Red kites, it is undoubtably from a problem with the latch but nobody can advise what different I could do! I have been to lots of cafes etc. actually it could maybe be fast letdown as I think it comes from him clamping maybe.... And thanks!

Nickname grief, thanks. The hot water bottle is my best friend right now. Last night was better mainly as I got up to fill it each time we woke up.

I will give it another week then reassess. Weird that the TT has made it worse... Unless that has made my letdown faster increasing the clamp. Is that possible??

Wishing you all the best for the next few days and week. I am hopeful that in a week it will have calmed down for you.

If you have managed to resolve the latch problem then it may well just take a little time for the vasospasm to resolve. Keep going to the support groups if you can, I did if just for the continued support of knowing that they knew I found it hard.

If you are managing to express enough for a night feed I would keep it up to give your poor boobs a break.

Please let us know how you are getting on

What kind of tie was it? Was/is there also a lip tie? Have you arranged anything like cranial osteopathy?

Done cranial twice with a TT specialist. It was a posterior tie. No lip tie.

Thanks very much nicknamegrief. Just taking it one feed at a time

It took my DD a good week or so to use her tongue and for there to be some relief. She was then sticking her hand in her mouth and licking it. Try to encourage your little one to use it. Stick tongue out at them and get them to suck your finger etc. I also got a lactation consultant to help as my positioning was terribke to compensate for her TT so when it was released I needed to relearn to get her in a better position.

Actually mcbaby it has started to feel better just today so maybe it is just a qu of time!