It took 17 days, but Levi is back up to his birth weight - actually a bit above that now at almost 8'. So all is good there. I met with the LC yesterday for almost 3 hours to work on getting him on the breast now that he is in a consistent growth pattern. By using a nipple shield we were able to get him on to nurse. He isn't very efficient yet and it took him almost an hour on to get an oz of milk out, so we still have to supplement (with ebm - thank G-d my supply is now excellent) as he gets the hang of it, but this is still a HUGE improvement. The best news - for me anyway - is that it already had an effect on my ability to get some sleep. He woke to eat at 2AM, I decided to try a side lying position and pulled him in next to me and got him on and we both fell back to sleep. I woke up at 4AM again to find him still latched on and sleeping while suckling. So he got 2 good hours of practice, and I got some sleep
We also found a surgeon who may be able to clip the tongue tie. He will do anterior tongue ties, but has never done a posterior one before. But there is a surgeon in Long Island who can do posterior tongue ties and is willing to talk with him on the phone and tell him how it is done (she has done it before with other drs) - it should be a very simple procedure. If he is then comfortable doing it we will then have a doctor in this area who can clip them. If not we may have to go to LI to get it clipped... He can stick his tongue out past his lips, but he can't lift it up to the roof of his mouth especially with the high palette, so chances of him ever being able to nurse without a nipple shield are minimal at best, and at worst he could have long term speech problems if it doesn't get clipped. So we will see...
We also found a surgeon who may be able to clip the tongue tie. He will do anterior tongue ties, but has never done a posterior one before. But there is a surgeon in Long Island who can do posterior tongue ties and is willing to talk with him on the phone and tell him how it is done (she has done it before with other drs) - it should be a very simple procedure. If he is then comfortable doing it we will then have a doctor in this area who can clip them. If not we may have to go to LI to get it clipped... He can stick his tongue out past his lips, but he can't lift it up to the roof of his mouth especially with the high palette, so chances of him ever being able to nurse without a nipple shield are minimal at best, and at worst he could have long term speech problems if it doesn't get clipped. So we will see...
Thank goodness things are getting easier and better for you... I hope you have some luck with the surgeon and that things continue to improve!! You're doing some really hard work, mama!
what great news!! i am so glad that levi is gaining & you are plugging along. some moms would have already quit. 
: to you!!
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