Bumping this up...
Any thoughts on whether a posterior tongue tie could be causing the above issues? She definitely has one and I'm thinking it might could explain everything. But, for some reason, I have some hesitation.
I went off dairy for six days, knowing that's not enough to see a full improvement, but enough to gauge whether I was seeing an effect if I added it back in for one day - a rotation diet. At the same time, I started the block feeding, going as long as 12 hours per side. I pumped off the huge amounts of foremilk before switching sides (huge amounts due to having been sitting so long). I did not pump before each nursing during block feeding but would allow the streams of milk from letdowns absorb into a towel if she came off during them.
In that time, the mucousy stools improved to mucous being "negligible," but before I actually added dairy again, she had a very mucousy BM. She did seem to be nursing somewhat better without as much forceful letdown, though she still came off the nipple throughout feedings. She wasn't pouring out tons of milk when she did so, though.
However, she didn't gain any weight. She had been checked on a calibrated scale by my MW on a Monday, and the following Wednesday registered the same weight (10-4) on a Medela BabyWeigh scale (also frequently calibrated). I know scales can have differences, but a full week with no noticeable change? I have rented one to have at home to see what her intake/transfer is like in hopes of determining if this is a transfer issue or an absorption issue. As of Saturday night, after a feed, she is only at 10lb5.4oz. This is almost two weeks after her being 10-4.
She's averaging around 22-22.5 ounces per day according to my weighings. The night weights aren't entirely specific because we cosleep and I can only wake up so many times, though I do have the scale next to the bed so I can get her on it as quickly as possible. I do have almost 48 hours of weights with no missed readings, so this is as accurate as I can get it.
According to an LC, this is on slightly below normal. According to Kellymom, it's on the low end of normal.
I'm wondering if the tongue tie (she doesn't get her tongue beyond her bottom gum) is causing problems in getting enough hindmilk out, which is causing a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance that's responsible for the mucous, blood, occasional green stools, and lack of weight gain. Perhaps the silent reflux and congestion is caused by the lack of good seal and excess air she's swallowing, along with sometimes out of sync swallowing. (She will gag, choke, occasionally stop breathing, etc., with letdown.)
I've added back dairy and am not seeing any clear signs of it causing a problem. Her stools are variable - more mucous, but not always there. And I've stopped the big blocks and am instead trying to get MORE into her to help with weight gain. I'm trying to offer both sides (I've always, always been a one-side nurser and my babies have often refused a second side), but am not limiting foremilk in any particular way. She is still feeding on demand, but by my records now that's clearly variable - from every hour the other day to every 3-4 when she's had a big napping day (like today). Still, her totals are averaging out to be pretty similar (range of 22.1 to 22.6oz/24 hours). So the stools are mucousy but there is also a tummy bug going around (and wouldn't you know, my 3yo's are mucousy, too!), though there was at least one that was "negligible" again, even with dairy.
I'm thinking I need to just go get the tongue clipped because it *might* be the underlying issue and *is* surely something of an issue, regardless. But I also hesitate, and I'm not sure why. I may try to see another MD before going to an ENT, an MD my MW has recommended as having lots of experience and supposedly most likely to be able to help. But I don't want to ignore a tongue tie too long and have it be harder to deal with.
Anyone else have thoughts or ideas?
Any thoughts on whether a posterior tongue tie could be causing the above issues? She definitely has one and I'm thinking it might could explain everything. But, for some reason, I have some hesitation.
I went off dairy for six days, knowing that's not enough to see a full improvement, but enough to gauge whether I was seeing an effect if I added it back in for one day - a rotation diet. At the same time, I started the block feeding, going as long as 12 hours per side. I pumped off the huge amounts of foremilk before switching sides (huge amounts due to having been sitting so long). I did not pump before each nursing during block feeding but would allow the streams of milk from letdowns absorb into a towel if she came off during them.
In that time, the mucousy stools improved to mucous being "negligible," but before I actually added dairy again, she had a very mucousy BM. She did seem to be nursing somewhat better without as much forceful letdown, though she still came off the nipple throughout feedings. She wasn't pouring out tons of milk when she did so, though.
However, she didn't gain any weight. She had been checked on a calibrated scale by my MW on a Monday, and the following Wednesday registered the same weight (10-4) on a Medela BabyWeigh scale (also frequently calibrated). I know scales can have differences, but a full week with no noticeable change? I have rented one to have at home to see what her intake/transfer is like in hopes of determining if this is a transfer issue or an absorption issue. As of Saturday night, after a feed, she is only at 10lb5.4oz. This is almost two weeks after her being 10-4.
She's averaging around 22-22.5 ounces per day according to my weighings. The night weights aren't entirely specific because we cosleep and I can only wake up so many times, though I do have the scale next to the bed so I can get her on it as quickly as possible. I do have almost 48 hours of weights with no missed readings, so this is as accurate as I can get it.
According to an LC, this is on slightly below normal. According to Kellymom, it's on the low end of normal.
I'm wondering if the tongue tie (she doesn't get her tongue beyond her bottom gum) is causing problems in getting enough hindmilk out, which is causing a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance that's responsible for the mucous, blood, occasional green stools, and lack of weight gain. Perhaps the silent reflux and congestion is caused by the lack of good seal and excess air she's swallowing, along with sometimes out of sync swallowing. (She will gag, choke, occasionally stop breathing, etc., with letdown.)
I've added back dairy and am not seeing any clear signs of it causing a problem. Her stools are variable - more mucous, but not always there. And I've stopped the big blocks and am instead trying to get MORE into her to help with weight gain. I'm trying to offer both sides (I've always, always been a one-side nurser and my babies have often refused a second side), but am not limiting foremilk in any particular way. She is still feeding on demand, but by my records now that's clearly variable - from every hour the other day to every 3-4 when she's had a big napping day (like today). Still, her totals are averaging out to be pretty similar (range of 22.1 to 22.6oz/24 hours). So the stools are mucousy but there is also a tummy bug going around (and wouldn't you know, my 3yo's are mucousy, too!), though there was at least one that was "negligible" again, even with dairy.
I'm thinking I need to just go get the tongue clipped because it *might* be the underlying issue and *is* surely something of an issue, regardless. But I also hesitate, and I'm not sure why. I may try to see another MD before going to an ENT, an MD my MW has recommended as having lots of experience and supposedly most likely to be able to help. But I don't want to ignore a tongue tie too long and have it be harder to deal with.
Anyone else have thoughts or ideas?
