Can you talk to me about tongue tie? How did you know your baby had it? Were they diagnosed right away? How was it fixed? What kind of symptoms were they showing? I'm wondering if my son (9 days old) has a tongue tie. He was nursing fine for awhile, but now it's like he doesn't know what to do. He has issues latching on, and will sometimes latch on, freeze for a bit, and then pull or fall off. It's been super frustrating.
Post by seamonster on Jun 14, 2015 14:30:31 GMT -5
LC diagnosed a deep posterior tongue tie in addition to a lip tie (I could see the lip tie, but she had to palpate the tongue tie). Sometimes you can see the tongue tie. LO had problems latching and moving his tongue. He couldn't put it past his gums until 4 weeks when he was trying to mimic us and it was barely there. My nipples were sore all the time and LO was ravenous and screaming for food all the time. He was in a lot of ways dependent on my letdown getting him milk.
Fixing his latch helped with the pain and getting some more milk into him.
The procedure is a quick cut with scissors or a laser. The pediatric dentist we saw did it with a laser. Quick and easy. Breastfeeding is encouraged afterward, but some babies like mine are too upset to latch. Had to do stretching exercises for a month to prevent reattachment. Not an immediate fix, but it helped a lot and we got steady improvement. Now he's fine. It's not a guaranteed fix for breastfeeding issues, but it can't hurt if a tie exists.
Post by gratefulgirl on Jun 16, 2015 16:48:25 GMT -5
Pediatrician diagnosed DD2's at 6 days old. Compared to DD1 her latch was a dream so I didn't pursue it. Then around 6 weeks she was diagnosed with reflux. The extreme gassiness destroyed her sleep. Eventually a friend suggested checking out her ties. Sure enough not only was she tongue tied but lip tied (just like DD1 - hence the terrible latch I suffered through the first time). At 4 months I suffered my first bout of mastitis and my supply was dropping. I have an oversupply so it wasn't noticed at first.
Took DD2 to 1 pediatric dentist who diagnosed the tie but wanted to charge through the rough to clip it. Took her to a local oral surgeon who also did laser clippings for a much more reasonable price. He said DD2's ties would not impact her severely as an adult, but since we were having nursing difficulties he would recommend clipping. He used a topical numbing agent and clipped with a laser. I nursed immediately afterward and noticed a difference. However once the numbing agent wore off and I had to do stretches she reverted for a while, which is common. By a month out, however, her latch was so much better.
Latching on and pulling off in pain can also be a reflux symptom.
Post by toadandbuggie on Jun 19, 2015 6:40:32 GMT -5
LO's tongue tie was brought to our attention at the hospital by the lactation consultant. We took him to a pediatric dentist where she said it was really our call since nursing wasn't being affect but when he got older it could cause some problems for him. My sister in law had it and she had to get it clipped when she was almost a teen and hated it so we decided to get it done. He had a minor lip tie too that was also lasered.
I don't think it hurts them much but he really despised the stretches. One time I stretched it he started bleeding and I freaked out and called the pediatric dentist. Apparently that's normal.
If you do get it done, it's really quick. The pediatric dentist didn't let me in the room which I was okay with but right after I nursed him. I had to give him tylenol that night because he was fussy but that was the only time. Then I had to do stretches 4 times a day and that lasted 3-4 weeks.
Post by toadandbuggie on Jun 19, 2015 6:42:35 GMT -5
junch817, I don't know if what you are describing is a tongue tie though. For my son, it was really obvious when he cried that there was a piece of skin attaching the tongue and not letting it move around as much. I would google pics. I'm pretty sure if it's a serious tongue tie you will most likely be able to see it.
Post by seamonster on Jun 28, 2015 16:59:24 GMT -5
I'd see a lactation consultant if you can (insurance may cover it). An anterior tie will look like the picture above. A posterior tie might not be visible and only detectable by palpation. DS had a deep posterior tie so from the outside you couldn't tell. I could see the lip tie and had to ask the doctor about it.
A lot of peds discount ties unless they look like the one in the picture. An LC can diagnose and refer, plus work on your latch or other issues.
Then Comes Family, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.