Tongue Tie

[Mildred01]

Hello,

I have had trouble breastfeeding and lo is now 5 months old. He has had slow weight gain started off 40-60 grams a week and is averaging on 80-100g. I’ve been giving top ups with breast milk but have trouble expressing because I can’t get anything out of the pump- on another thread! I had a really good few weeks where he gained 180-250g.

Anyhow the breastfeeding consultants suspected posterior tongue tie and referred me to the hospital. The consultant said ‘nope no tongue tie’ in a matter of seconds. The appointment lasted the whole of 20 seconds with him swiping his finger under his tongue and having a look.
The breastfeeding consultant wasn’t happy with this so brought in a specialist to my home and she had a good look and feel and said yes small posterior tongue about 75% I think she said. They are referring my baby for another assessment elsewhere.

In the mean time, I’m thinking does he or doesn’t he have tongue tie? From what I understand, the snip a bit of the frenulum but everyone has this and I don’t want his snipped for no reason especially if it ends breastfeeding or causes him problems further down the line. The consultant I saw at the hospital also does it privately and actually had I gone private I would have saw him. But the specialists and breastfeeding team are adamant it’s tongue tie and I just feel torn as to whether he actually had it it not.

please help! All options and experiences welcome.

forgot to say I’ve had a painful latch since birth but only on one breast and typing is awful because I’m out waiting for someone!

Tbh sounds like there are tt issues

I'm a maternity nurse and trained in tt and annoys me so much that when I start with a new family the poor mum /baby is struggling to feed

I ask about tt. Mum says no the mw /hv said they don't have tt

I check and they do

If there aren't any issues they can't cut what isn't there. If that makes sense

So you can't harm a baby mouth /tongue by snipping if they haven't got tt

But if they have then feeding and as they get older talking can be effected if they don't have it snipped

I'm sorry your baby is 5mths and you have had feeding /latching issues

If you can afford private then worth the money. Usually around £300 but can be done with in the week usually

Nhs as newborns can be a 6/8week wait - not sure for 5mths

Hi @Mildred01.
My baby is 12 weeks old and actually had her tongue tongue tie snipped yesterday.
lLike you, I’ve struggled with pain breastfeeding plus multiple bouts of blocked ducts/mastitis.
She has also been slow to gain weight.
When she was born the midwife’s did a basic look in the mouth and said ‘no tongue tie’ , when she was 4 weeks old I paid for a private breastfeeding consultant to come over to help me with feeding, she didn’t think there was tongue tie but said ‘tiny possibility of posterior tie’.
i carried on feeding in pain till now when I thought I really need to get to the bottom of this and got her seen by the tongue tie expert more to rule it out than anything.
turns out she had 25% tongue tie and she did the little snip there and then.
it was honestly so quick, she was absolutely fine and fed immediately after.
it’s still too soon to say if there is immediate improvement but she is def drinking faster! And less fussing when she feeds.
i managed to get seen very quickly on NHS!
anyway that was my experience , I’m so glad I double checked!!! X

My son was 4 days when I noticed Tonge tie, my son previously had it so knew what to look out for.
My son was struggling to latch making my nipples bleed and extremely sore.
I raised this with the midwife that day who rand the hospital for an appointment. Within 24 hours we was at the hospital his tt was snipped and feeding was never better.
The procedure was quick and son recovered quick.
My previous son had it done and he has had no problems with speech etc.