tongue tie...now what???

[suddenlyamama]

Hi Mamas,

DD and I have had a rough go with nursing from the very start. She had a very painful latch for the first three weeks, but because I was in and out of the hospital for my own postpartum issues, I never really had the chance to see a lactation consultant. When we were finally nursing with success (as in no pain for me, no crying for her) I sort of forgot about the latch problem. Then she had severe reflux for the next twelve weeks.Still has reflux but only occasion. Tried ED but seemed to make no difference. Another clue, she also cannot hold a pacifier in her mouth (we didn't even think anything of this, we thought it was preferance). For the ;ast 6 weeks or so she has been clamping down forcefully while nursing.

So, last week I was with a LLL leader who looked at her tongue and said, um I think she might have tongue tie. She even has a heart shaped tip of her tongue. 

I feel so ignorant and am wondering how I missed this. 

I guess my question is what happens next? Could this be why she had so much reflux? Is it important to get clipped?

[PatioGardener]

Oh that's hard, Mama!

I would definitely get a tongue-tie clipped.  I have seen them result in supply issues later on, pain for Mama, slow weight gain etc.  It is more complicated when baby is over 3 months old - usually you have to see a dentist who can do it in the office, as most ENTs etc will insist on general anesthesia.

There is a great tongue-tie thread in the Breastfeeding Resources sticky - check it out and it may help you figure out your next steps.

PS I am angry that this was not caught for you earlier.  We should not expect mothers to diagnose tongue-ties themselves!  It is a reflection of our non breastfeeding friendly medical culture that your baby was not checked for this at birth. 

[carrierwright]

If you can't find a local practioner who does frenotomy (tongue tie clipping) you can often call a local IBCLC and ask who clips near you! (pediatric dentists and Ear nose and throat mds usually)

[budwana birth]

Some midwives can clip tongue tie as well.  Good luck!

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by budwana birth 

Some midwives can clip tongue tie as well.  Good luck!

ooooooooooooooh - do you mind sharing where?  I would LOVE to see midwives in Canada have simple tongue-tie clipping come under their care, but right now it does not.

[SubliminalDarkness]

Yes, definitely get it done ASAP. My son's was done by a pediatric surgeon.