Resources for friend with non-latching newborn

[KnittingTigers]

Hi all,

My best friend has a five-day old baby who will not latch. Baby came about three weeks early, and may either have a tongue tie (though he can stick his tongue out pretty far) or very tight muscles/jaws. My friend is in excruciating pain, and her nipples are very torn up. She is currently, on the advice of an LC, trying to nurse him every two hours, then pumping, and giving him a bottle of breastmilk with formula as needed. (This is exactly the advice that I got from an LC that led to the downward spiral of my own breastfeeding efforts, so I feel worried for her.) She is extremely committed to breastfeeding, and is feeling upset and overwhelmed right now.

I have suggested that she:

1. Supplement with a Lact-Aid at the breast rather than using bottles;

2. Rent a hospital grade pump so that she's maximizing her supply;

3. Find a better LC.

Questions for you all:

1. Do you have other thoughts on what she might do to both increase supply and get the baby back on the breast?

2. If she needs to supplement with formula, does anyone have thoughts on the healthiest, safest store-bought option? (Right now, making their own formula is not an option.)

Thanks.

[LilMomma83]

Sticking the tongue out far does not at all mean baby is not tongue tied...it has more to do with the elivation and moms story...with the torn up nipples and non latching it sounds very much like a tongue tie. I would highly recommend she find a better IBCLC who is very familiar with tongue tie including posterior tongue ties. The best thing she can do is get that revised as quickly as possible and do bodywork - I highly recommend craniosacral therapy before and especially after the revision...the tongue tie makes for a lot of restriction...in fact it effected my daughter's entire body by the time she was a few months old..after proper revision and craniosacral therapy (which we are still doing) she is evening out and meeting milestones...and of course breastfeeding better!

[KnittingTigers]

Thanks. They are working with a PT who doesn't think it's necessary to do a snip. I'm encouraging her to ask around for another lactation consultant. Anyone with recs for a good LC in Brooklyn who makes house calls would be much appreciated.

[LilMomma83]

Can you or she join the tongue tied babies support group on Facebook? That might help her find dinner good resources for IBCLC etc...and syne more advice in revising or not...in my onion if she its having those issues being told not to revise is horrible advice