Tongue tie, what to do?

[daisydaisy1996]

My LO is booked in next week to get her tongue tie snipped. It doesn’t affect her feeding, she latches well on her bottle and feeds. She’s formula fed. She does click her tongue when feeding however and that’s mainly the only symptom of tongue tie she has.

We’re under the Infant Feeding Team as we have been struggling with reflux and stomach discomfort and she was gaining weight, but slowly. Infant feeding said tongue tie could be part of the reason why she is experiencing this, but I’m unsure. This has since improved slightly, as we’ve moved to reflux milk after trying Nutrimigen for CMPA - anyway back to the subject, I’ve heard so many horror stories about getting tongue tie done and wondering does she need this? What happens if she doesn’t have the procedure? Have any Mums been through this and can advise? I know it’s probably worse for me than it will be for her (I cried more than her when she had her jabs) but I’ve also read the older they are, the longer it can take to heal and a harder time they have with it? She’ll be 10 weeks when procedure is done. I think regardless she will have this done if professionals think it will help, I will always follow advice, but just looking for people who have been in this situation and some shared experiences I guess!

You’re doing the right thing getting it sorted now! You’re right it’s harder for you but it’s definitely worth it for your baby. My DS has had two procedures using cool laser. The first was at 5 months and the second at 8 months as the first didn’t heal as well as it could have. In my experience the younger they have it done the easier it is all round.

You’ll be given post procedure stretches to do every four hours initially, then reducing to every six hours. The younger they are the better as the resistance is less. It’ll probably be tough going for you as it’s so hard seeing your baby uncomfortable, but make sure you do them properly.

We did this religiously the first time but unfortunately there was still some restriction after the initial four week healing period. We repeated the procedure at 8 months and also went to an osteopath who specialises in infant tongue tie twice a week to do additional body work and keep a general eye on the healing. This helped immensely. I would definitely recommend getting it done when they’re young as the healing is easier before solids kick in.

The infant feeding team are right…..even with the suspected CMPA, a tongue tie can still exacerbate refluxy symptoms.
I noticed my youngest’s tongue tie when she was a couple of days old - was very obvious, right at the top of her tongue. I was breastfeeding and while her latch wasn’t painful as such, it’s was a bit pinchy, and she was feeding way more frequently than my babies that didn’t have TT - I’m assuming because her TT was limiting milk transfer.
I got an appointment privately when she was 7 days old to get the procedure to have it cut.
I made sure to hold off a feed just before the procedure, practitioner did her assessment, and the actually snip was fast like lightening! DD made a little squeak and then was immediately handed to me to latch. Feeding right afterwards creates pressure and stops any bleeding really quickly.
For the next few days, DD was making some hilarious faces while she worked out how her new tongue worked 😂 But feeding immediately improved, reflux symptoms were a distant memory, no more pinchy latch.
Shes 5 now and never had any issues relating to the procedure. She’s just got a tiny little scar on the tip of her tongue.

My baby had it cut at 8 weeks with no problems. I was a bit emotional tho and I did cry before it happened.

they snipped it quick, she had a feed and that was it really. She stuck her tongue out a lot the next few days so clearly noticed she had more movement.

we were breastfeeding ok before and nothing really changed there but I’m happy she had it done.

Honestly, I squirmed thinking about it and wanted to put it off when we first were told about it, so I know how you feel. It's natural to not want our babies to go through pain, especially when our mom hormones are still running high. But DP and I had no choice with DS as he wasn't feeding well at all and his tongue tie was so prominent they clocked it in the delivery room. Ironically his main problem turned out to be something else that came up on the heel prick test, but I would still say his feeding improved a little after the frenectomy. He was done at a week old.

I was dreading it but it honestly takes moments. The private midwife assessed him and explained how the tongue tie was problematic to him which set my mind at ease that we were doing the right thing. We were told to be ready with a feed straight after as it stops the pain. I don't recall him seeming uncomfortable after that, but he was jaundiced and very sleepy so you might experience a bit more fuss. Don't get mired down in weird tongue exercises recommended in America, the NHS doesn't recommend them and I think there's suggestion that they can cause higher infection rates.

From the symptoms you describe I'd say it would be beneficial. You might also be avoiding speech impediments later down the line. It's best done early as they don't have many pain receptors under their tongue initially, but this changes as they grow and can become much more uncomfortable when they are toddlers. Also, your DD isn't yet at an age where she's chewing all sorts so probably less risk of infection!

Good luck with it. I know it's a horrible feeling but it's probably for the best if the feeding team have brought it up. 💐

Thank you all for your responses! You’ve made me feel a lot more at ease about the whole thing! I didn’t think we’d be booked in as quickly as we were either, only a week wait, so I think that made my anxiety worse😂 I definitely think it’s for the best, anything that can help her discomfort long term too!!

Just jumping in here to say thanks for posting @daisydaisy1996 , my 5wk old is waiting for their TT appt and reading these accounts helped.

he really struggled with feeding in the early weeks and we almost went private, but he’s improved a lot and gaining well (still pinchy though!). I’m now undecided as to whether we should have it cut (as feeding was primary concern) but will wait and see what the assessment says.

@MsNevermore - interested to hear your little one had reflux. Mine has nasty silent reflux which is now our main issue. Do you have an explanation as to how the TT was exacerbating it? Did it really improve after the procedure? 🙏🏻

It’s something to do with the shape the tongue needs to be able to make to form a proper seal on a bottle or breast. If the tongue can’t make the correct motion because it’s restricted in some way, it can cause baby to swallow too much air. When that air ends up in their tummy, it causes pain and forces the contents of their stomach back upwards.
And on top of that, babies in general are born with a really crappy oesophageal sphincter 🤷🏻‍♀️ takes time for it to sort of “train” itself to stay closed and stop allowing milk to come back up. Couple a crappy oesophageal sphincter with a tongue tie, and it’s pretty much a recipe for reflux.

@Sierra26you’re welcome! It’s just reassuring to hear other people’s experiences sometimes. My little one is also struggling with silent reflux, I should’ve added that it was silent. I think that’s part of her discomfort and with the explanation from @MsNevermorethat makes a lot of sense with the air in her tummy causing discomfort and then end result of silent reflux! I will update you on how she is after the procedure, she’s due to have it done Thursday!🤞🏼

It's not just feeding that tongue tie can affect, it can also cause tooth decay in later life as one of the ways we clean our teeth is by moving the tongue around to get bits out of them.
So really well worth getting sorted.

Hope all goes well and you see improvement quickly!
Honestly, it’s worse for you than it is for baby! My DD’s procedure was over in quite literally a flash - blink and you’d have missed it!

So update - took her to the appointment where they assessed her again and they said they wouldn’t feel comfortable snipping it as it isn’t needed! As her function has improved massively and she can move her tongue how they’d expect. Although it is attached and appearance wise you can see it, as it’s not affecting her feeding since changing the milk, she said it’s not that bad as when first assessed and although there’s no evidence to prove the exercises actually work, they seem to have done something in this instance.. but I can always refer back into the clinic if things change. Surprised but a little relieved.

Glad to hear you’ve had some reassurance and seen some improvement OP!

It might be really obvious, but sitting baby as upright as you can and use the paced bottle feeding method can really help with refluxy symptoms too ❤️

Get it sorted now, it will only help her going forward

@horseplay12The nurse and consultant said ethically they wouldn’t feel comfortable doing this when she has full function. As there is simply no need, she’s feeding well and her function has improved greatly to that of any other child, it’s just appearance wise it’s visible and there’s not enough hard evidence to prove the effects it has later on in life to use that as a reason to do it, as the consultant said many children have some level of tongue tie and it has no effect on development, oral hygiene or anything else, as long as it isn’t restricted - which hers isn’t. I’m happy with the judgement of the professionals and also won’t unwillingly put my child through something she doesn’t simply need for a “just in case”

@MsNevermorethank you! We do paced feeding and sitting her upright, I’ve changed her milk 2 weeks ago under the supervision of doctor and she is like a different baby!! Now it’s fully settled in her stomach, change in her has been amazing. So fingers crossed we’re getting somewhere 🤞🏼

So glad to hear it!
I remember it well, feeling so useless like you can’t help them….and when something finally makes a difference it feels like a miracle.
Yay for you!! 😍😍😍