Help - poor feeding post tongue tie

[Firsttimerugbymum]

Hi - not sure if anyone can help but posting as last resort.

me and LO had a slow start to breastfeeding (she lost 12.5% of birthweight). Was a very sleepy baby so moved to breastfeeding and expressed top ups which stopped a while ago as she started gaining weight well.

about three weeks ago, her feeding started to get worse and we had a lactation consultant come round and advise on positioning. It got better for about a week.

after this, she struggled to maintain a latch, started having quick five minute feeds, very unsatisfied, dribbling milk, smacking during feeds as she came off and on.

contacted lactation consultant again who advised getting checked for tongue tie after seeing limited tongue movement. Tongue tie was diagnosed and cut around ten days ago.

initially there was an improvement, but yesterday and today it’s massively deteriorating and she’s exhausting herself trying to feed. Thankfully we have plenty of wet and dirty nappies and her weight gain seems ok but I think this is in part due to my oversupply.

im hesitant to give a bottle as to me it’s obvious she’s not enjoying feeding and I’m not ready to give up yet but equally I’m struggling to think of what else I can do. I can’t keep throwing money at this however, having paid for a lactation consultant and private tongue tie cut.

I’ve tried so far:

• weekly breastfeeding drop ins - I’m struggling to demonstrate feeding as she’s so tired
• skin to skin in bed - this actually seems to agitate her more
• different positions - we just can’t get the hang of it
• biological nurturing - she just gets agitated
• breastfeeding helpline - nice to speak to someone but again not helping

im at my wits end and fed up of crying over this so if I don’t see improvement soon will have to move to formula. Has anyone else had reverting of issues so soon after tongue tie?

Go see your Dr as could be other issues. No shame in going over to bottle feeding, you can mix it or express.

Hello, just wondering what direction you ended up going in, if you don't mind me asking? Our little one seems to be having exactly the same issues (currently we are 6 days post tongue tie division, I felt an improvement for a few days but today has been awful again). I am miserable and at my wits end but so keen to try to make breast feeding work. I can't keep paying to lactation consultants, but I don't know what else to do.

When you had the cut did they offer post cut bf support? Sadly cut and run is Colman but the baby has learnt to feed after a fashion with a tied tongue, suddenly it’s free, they need to re learn and you need to be trained to help them re learn. You have to re latch re latch re latch til they get it. Contact another l action consultant I think might be the way to access this

Thank you, @Strictlymad . As you say we've had no extra support since leaving the hospital. I try relatching but baby gets so frustrated which is hard to see. I don't know how much longer my nerves can persist

Have you tried an osteopath? They may be able to help.

I took DD to a cranial osteopath after her tongue tie. I don't know if it was just coincidence, but she did start to feed better afterwards. It takes a little while to learn how to use the tongue again too.

Thanks @Izzynohopanda @lavenderlou yes! The osteopath seems to be the only think making the slightest difference. It'll improve for a day or two and then go back to a poor, ineffective latch and baby getting frustrated. Im going again this week so I hope it helps again