When did your LO's high palate resolve?

[jenfl]

My DS has a high/nearly bubble palate because of his tongue tie. The tie has been clipped, but we're still having issues because of his palate. I've heard that babies usually grow into their palates, but when? DS is nearly 3 months old now.

Thanks!

[ewe+lamb]

That can take a while, I remember your thread dealing with the tt, the high palate is going to take at least some months to sort out, but the main thing is that with every nursing session the palate is being pushed out if the tt has been clipped successfully which I think it has, so do whatever you can to ease the pain, the tongue exercises to improve latch etc but basically it's not going to take a few weeks to sort out, sorry to be such a downer on this - good luck and keep posting if you need the support.

[julieinva]

Hi, I only have a very quick minute to answer, so sorry so short. I will check back tonight if you have any questions or comments.

I have had 2 babies with transfer issues resulting from high palates. The first was nursing completely by 5 months old. He may have been able to do it sooner, but I kind of gave up for a while and wasn't as persistant as i could have been. The best thing I did was rent a medela baby check scale and track his intake until I was confident that he was getting enough.

My youngest was fully nursing at 3 months. Because I had prior experience, I tried harder knowing she would eventually be able to nurse well. At first she was nursing a lot because she wasn't very efficient, but it was better than pumping and bottlefeeding! She is 4.5 months now and still nurses slowly, but don't (usually) mind!

HTH,

Julie

[jenfl]

Thanks, julieinva! We've been able to exclusively breastfeed the whole time, it's just painful and frustrating. Sprout is now nearly 4 months old and we've had very little improvement.

[julieinva]

Sorry, I guess my answer wasn't very helpful then was it? It's funny how different everyone's experiences are. I never had any pain with either of my "high palate" babies but neither of them could transfer milk well.

I commend you for sticking with it. Hopefully it will resolve soon.

Julie

[Oliver'sMom]

I just had my second baby on wednesday and he seems to have a high palate/latch issues just like ds1 did.

Ds1 lost a lot of weight his first month and I didn't know what the problem was at the time. I'm scared that this will happen again with ds#2.

My milk came in the day after ds2 was born which is absolutely amazing to me because it took 6 days for ds1. I attribute it entirely to the fact that I ate some placenta after birth...but anyway...ds2 seems very content and satisfied after he nurses and is peeing a bunch. It takes us a long time to get latched on properly and we often have to unlatch and start over.

Sorry if i'm thread crashing here, but what else can i do to get ds2 to latch on properly? it's just a learn as you go thing right? steady wins the race?

[jenfl]

I've read that it can help to NOT do an asymetrical latch, but instead do a "bulls-eye". So try NOT putting more of the bottom than top in -- try putting your breast in with the nipple in the middle. That will give more breast tissue to fill in the high palate.

This helped a bit for us. It definitely explained why, when I got frustrated and focused so hard on getting him to latch RIGHT, that things got worse!

[Roxanne010]

Curious how your LO nurses, do you ever get enouugh in to get a deep enough latch cuz I can't seem to even if I get the whole areola in it doesn't work. Do yours suck right or chomp like mine, I don't think I've ever gotten her to suck right at the breast, sometimes on my finger. Have you tried some kind if paci at all, I've read stuff about a playtex natural latch but I'm so hesitant to try any type of artificial nipple even just for suck training. I have definitely always noticed that latching "right" hurt more so the bulls eye is what is usually best.

[jenfl]

He nurses.... not great. Usually a pretty shallow latch, but he just can't maintain a deep latch. The therapist said he mostly chomps, not sucks, and some days I can feel that; some days I can't. I think my nipples have just become so used to it that I don't feel the pain any more.

The therapist and an LC both recommended I use either a Soothie paci or my finger for suck training -- not to just let him suck on (although we do let him use one in the car if he's fussy, otherwise we'll never be able to go anywhere). Basically, we let him suck on it then tug, forcing him to maintain a suction to keep a hold of the paci.

At this point, I've spent 4 months visiting my ped, 2 LCs, 3 therapists, a chiropractor, and 2 ENTs (one of whom clipped at least part of his tongue tie). I have one more doctor to see next week (craniofacial surgeon), and then I'm done. I've pretty much given in to the fact that this is how it's going to be. It's gotten slightly better over the months, and I'll just have to hope that it keeps getting slowly better. In the meantime, I guess I get to suck it up.

[Roxanne010]

I hope he starts "getting it" for you, I know what you mean about the pain I will see a new lc and they will help adjust positioning and latch then ask how it feels and it's like I have to focus on the pain to notice it because I've gotten so used to just ignoring it and sitting through her chomping away 24 hours a day. I'm hoping she will say start to grow out of it around 2 months and maybe be doing it mostly right by 6 mo by as of the last day or so I think I'm noticing reflux symtoms like my last had (and I believe it was all due to the incorrect sucking) I really don't want to do meds for it but I don't want her to associate pain with nursing either like my last did. I'll let you know if I find anything that makes a difference

[ShwarmaQueen]

Hang in there! At 8 months, things are slightly better.