TT snip on Friday, still struggling to latch, any ideas to keep us going?

[wishiwasrunning]

My 2 wk old DC3 had her tt snipped on Friday (last 2 dc had tt too). First feed after was brilliant and she came off on her own for first time ever! Usually just fell asleep through exhaustion.

Since then we have been diagnosed and treated for thrush, probably due to my massively damaged nipples. To give her the medication it needs to be after her feed and stay on, so I've been topping her up more than normal and she seems to prefer the faster flow of the bottle and is taking less from me and more from bottle. Can't get a decent latch so she ends up slipping onto nipple and its really painful.

Going to get to bf clinic tomorrow, but does anyone have any ideas what we could do till then, it feels like my milk is going as its been so long since the last decent feed. Help please! Don't want to give up so soon after the snip!

Have you tried nipple shields? Just thinking it would protect your nipples and might make it easier for her to latch (it did for my DD).

How long did the good feeds last for?
DS1 fed brilliantly for 24 hrs after the tt division, and the 24 hrs after that were pure hell. I had to (hand) express off milk, as I was so full. He took a little out of a doidy cup (3 weeks old!). I ended up stripping both of us down to bare minimum, and going to bed, so loads of skin to skin.

We then fed to a year.

TT is partly genetic, so not that surprising all your have had one. Both of mine have - tho DS1 was technically less severe, he had the most problems. Apparently it was unusual??

Nipple shields?

Medela Calma bottle?

SNS?

Have you phoned a bf helpline?

www.laleche.org.uk/content/telephone-helpline

Are you massaging the snipped area? If not the tt can re attach - this can be sorted at check up though.

We had tt snipped and having to practice a lot to get a good latch. Otherwise ds just takes in air and doesn't fill up. He is older though - snipped at7 weeks, now 9 weeks.

Good luck.

Other potential is that tt was not the problem but I suspect he needs to practice now tongue is working.

Also he could be wound guarding - keeping tongue over the wound for first few days.

Thanks, we have just tried the nipple shields again but she wouldn't latch on, tried without them on the other side and she fed well! Only took 1oz of top up too.

Hoping she'll get it over time maybe? Maybe her new tongue is tired?

Have to pop out now but will try the helpline later. I'm planning to pick up a hand pump while I'm out as it might help maintain my supply until we get this sorted.

NCT hire out double pumps. Your local hospital may do the same. It would save time and be more effective to use a double pump.

What happens if you don't give the top up? No matter how much I feed my daughter if I was to offer a top up afterwards she would happily down it wether she's had plenty from me or not! Basically she's greedy! I'd be tempted to drop the top ups and just concentrate on lots of feeding.

Well after the weekend from hell and the most painful feeds ever we made into the nhs bf clinic and saw the midwife that snipped the tt on Friday. She said there had been a tie which she had seen but when she went to cut it she couldn't.see it again so she just cut the tie she could see.

We latched on and she said it all looked fine but it's excruciating for me. My nipples are in such a state with a large open wound on each one which just extends with each change of position.

Plan is to rest my nipples for a week and express to maintain my supply dds tt will be totally healed by then too so they can have a proper look for the 'hidden' tie.

It is such a relief to be honest, I couldn't face another feed, I was so scared of the pain. Dd is very happy on the ebm and formula for now and I'm looking forward to a more restful night with out toe curling feeds!

Thanks for the tips and encouragement!

This seems odd to me. She needs to bf following the snip to prevent it healing together again. Better to have had the rest from bf then snip. I hope it goes ok.