Tongue Tie

[MeTheManAndBaby]

Hi Mumsnetters,

I'm interested in hearing about your experience of Tongue Tie in babies. Over the last few weeks I've heard of some shocking experiences when it comes to babies with tongue tie.

One example being a new mother who's baby has been losing weight the last couple of weeks since birth. The mother knew something was up, midwives response was for her to top up with formula. Mother suggested tongue tie but was told it wasn't enough of an issue to be a problem with feeding. Mother eventually saw Breastfeeding lactation consultant who confirmed indeed baby had tongue tie and this is why baby isn't gaining weight. Baby cannot fully extend her tongue enough to get enough pull to reach the milk at the back of her breasts.

So you think the solution would be for baby to get booked straight in to have it snipped, right?

No, you see there's a 5 week wait for NHS treatment. The NHS that wants to get mums breastfeeding is hindering this mum's attempt at breastfeeding by not helping her out with a 3 second snip. Of course she could pay to have it done privately but should that really be a option?

What about those mothers who cant afford that option? What would the alternative be? Give up Breastfeeding and turn to formula?

I would love to hear your experience...

My DD had tongue tie, and I can honestly say my experience was completely different. It was noticed by my Health Visitor at 2 weeks of age. She was immediately booked into hospital and had it snipped 6 days later. I cannot fault the way it was handled. However every trust/hospital is different. Some NHS Trusts / hosptials appear a lot more reluctant to snip tongue tie. Thankfully my hospital were on the ball as it improved DD's feeding dramatically

Is this gathering information for your blog op?

My ds has a recurring tongue tie and I have experienced pretty terrible care along the way. He is now 8 months old and has had it cut three times, at 6 weeks, 11 weeks and 7 months.

It was picked up at day 3 midwife visit but they said just to monitor it. Which they did for 6 weeks despite bleeding nipples, long feeds(sometimes an individual feed could take 2 hours!) and general unsettled ness. Think we were too tough for our own good!

Finally at 6 weeks I was exhausted and health visitor let me see the specialist tongue tie nurse at hospital. She was lovely but could not understand how we had breastfed for so long and how he had put on weight as he had the most severe tongue tie- grade one. The tiny snip which only caused a few seconds crying changed feeding instantly. Feeds went from at least 45 mins long to just 10 minutes, no pain and his terrible colic/wind disappeared!

I noticed all symptoms coming back and at 11 weeks I went straight back to specialist midwife who confirmed it had regrown to grade 5 (on a scale of 1-9) and re snipped it.

I then suspected it had regrown from about 4 months on but he was too old to see the midwife again and thus is where it all got bad again. I was in the nhs referral system to see ent consultant. I was by now feeding 10/11 feeds a day and weight gain had dropped right off despite early weaning to solids at 5 months and huge solids meals. I took ds to children's a&e to try to get help but paediatrician couldn't understand how a tongue tie could affect things and told me to give him comfort formula to top him up and help the wind!

Eventually at 7 months old and with minimal weight gain happening despite 3+meals a day and 10 milk feeds, still breastfeeding, the health visitor really stepped in and advocated for us. He got put on emergency surgery list and got it cut under general anaesthetic. Significant regrowth was confirmed.

Now 5 weeks on at 8 months the tongue tie is well and truly back with the return of terrible painful wind, painful nipples and slowing weight gain. He is starving and just cannot get enough solid food. It is now affecting his eating with him struggling to chew properly. I am about to start the fight for further treatment but know it will be just that. I wish medical professionals would not have such closed minds. No-one believed it could grow back again or cause trouble but yet I knew things were not right. Wish I had gone with my gut instinct earlier. This time I am and know I need to fight to get the right treatment!

No, hence why I said 'in hearing about' not 'writing about'.