DS having tongue tie snipped - what to expect?

[roomforthree]

After months of our gp being unwilling to refer, ds,4.5 months, is finally having this procedure on Tuesday. It's been decided very quickly, and I've been given little information, other than it's quick, no anaesthesia is used, and the pain is comparable to the im jabs babies have.

What I want to know is if there is bleeding? Are post-op infections likely? Will there be any prolonged pain? Anything else I should know or expect?

I know I should have asked the surgeon, but I was so relieved that something was finally being done, that all these questions completely left my head!

Thanks in advance

Bump.

Sorry not to have the answers but will be watching with interest. My ds has quite a short bit of free tongue that is not apparently bad enough to call tongue tie (according to the local breastfeeding counsellor), but I am thinking of trying to get a private referral to see someone as we have had loads of bf problems and I feel that this might be something to do with it. is yours a very clear case of tongue tie?

My baby was only weeks old when it was done so I don't know how much of a difference that makes.

They took dd into another room, when she came back she was screaming and they were holding a paper towel in her mouth. They have her to me, she fed and that was it no more bleeding or problems.

Sorry to hear of your bf problems downbutnotout. It must be frustrating. I would go with your instinct and push for a referral. GP only decided to do something after DS started losing weight , even though I had said numerous times that DS was in pain feeding. The BFC & surgeon I saw this week said DS should have been referred when the tongue tie was confirmed as per trust protocol.

DS's tongue tie is obvious as he has very little movement and the frenulum is connected almost at the tip. I have read that even non-severe ties can impact breastfeeding.

Hope you get some help soon

Thanks for your reply, CarGirl - great to hear that it was straightforward . I will need to be in room apparently. Not looking forward to that.

Just close your eyes!!! I saw photos of the procedure include the huge scissor things!

Mouth cuts heal very quickly.

Thanks room - fwiw, I do hear that it is very simple and babies have been known to sleep through it. My midwife recommended this link to look at. The health professionals I've seen so far think ds's case is not severe enough for treatment but his weight gain has been sluggish (although finally picking up this week) and today was my worst feeding day ever - he fought at the breast and cried and pulled himself off. It seems that he just cannot get the milk out as well as he would like. Maybe the tongue has nothing to do with it, but frankly right now I would try anything.

My DD1 had tounge tie and had it cut at 3 days old (I don't know if the age makes a difference). Although we were worried about it aparently it is worse for the parents than the baby. We were told there aren't nerves there so it doesn't hurt and DD1 only cryed for about 5 seconds when she had it done. There was a bit of bleeding but the midwife held a bit of cotton wool against it and it stopped within 5 mins. For info, when she was checked for tounge tie at 2 days old we were told she didn't have it. When we told a differnt MW on day 3 that we were having problems with BF, she checked again and spotted it. room -4.5 months seems a long time to have to wait for a referal - i hope things get better after Tuesday.Downbutnotout - trust your instinct - mum usualy knows best!

ds had his snipped at 6 days old!!! he was asleep, dh laid ds on his knee, dr opened ds's mouth, snipped ds tongue tie, and ds stayed asleep throughout it all and had no noticable bleeding. hope that helps?

Mine son's been cut twice (lactation consultant managed to miss the main problem bit, just snipped the thin, diaphanous part at the front - a paediatric consultant cut the thick bar part) and he was a bit cross both times, bled slightly more the second, but didn't seem even sore either time. Was really not a big event - and I am someone who can hardly bear to look when he is vaccinated. Post-op infection is something like 1 in 10,000, so exceedingly rare!

It was amazing the difference it made. He used to chew milk out before, after, his tongue was over his bottom gum. He's still a bit restricted through the tongue, which is rare, but happens. But it's light-years better than it was before successful division.

this info covers your questions, and is Unicef approved!

Oops, I see someone else posted the same link! The guy who wrote it did the cutting - he was lovely, and very calm about it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Good to hear that it is a quick procedure. The babyfriendly link answers all my questions - not sure how google didn't turn that up for me?

Downbutnotout - What you describe sounds like the problems we've had. DS has fought feeding since birth, and it has been really traumatic for us both at times. Really, I would broach this issue with gp/hv again. Hope you get the help you need.

My DD had this op last year, at 10 days old. She had 100% tongue tie, and I was on the verge of giving up bf as my nipples were bleeding so badly.

The procedure (it's hardly an op) took 60 seconds. DD was swaddled, taken into the adjacent room by the doc and nurse, and I was told to be ready to bf feed her when they came back in. I'd barely undone my bra when she was put into my arms - still asleep! Upon feeding her the pain was substantially less - instant effect. Within days it had gone altogether.

It's an amazingly simple procedure, and I only wish midwives were trained to spot tongue tie, and make the snip, at birth. My dd's was missed entirely, even by the bf consultant and the paediatrician . Only spotted when I saw a NCT bf specialist privately. She rush-referred me to the only hospital in the region that did the op; on the NHS and I had an appointment within 5 days.

I wonder how many women give up bf because of the pain, without it ever being diagnosed in their LO?