Would you do it yourself?

[ann_of_loxley]

So heres a question for you!...
It may not be a problem for me but it may be...

Both DH and I were born tongue tied. I got mine clipped when I was 8 so it was no simple thing. There was blood and stitched and all of that you know - a sore mouth full of gauze for a few days. I bounced right back but still...not as simple as the procedure for a newborn.

So I know the chance of our next child having tongue tie - just down to genetics here - is very very likely.

This caused a lot of problems with our breastfeeding relationship. Basically with that and bad advice and support it ruined it very quickly. :

I do NOT want this to be an issue at all next time!

I will be discussing this with the MW and finding out what can be done in our country. I do not see why she couldnt do it herself right after the birth (my preference - the sooner the better!!!) but she may not be able to and we may have to go to the doctors or something. In this country, that could take months and something me, my future baby, and my nipples do not want to go through (again ...that would be that breastfeeding relationship down the drain again and not something I am willing to risk. I had a friend whos child was diagnosed tongue tie and appointment for snipping it was when she was 4 months old!...Too LONG a WAIT!...

If this worst case scenario comes to be my reality as well... I was thinking of just doing it myself! I have seen medical videos of it being done in newborns and its very quick and basic. They compare it to ear piercing...I think its even slightly less dramatic than that! lol I know MWs used to have a long fingernail they use to just swipe under the tongue of the baby at birth and that also used to 'snip' it that way. It used to be as routine as giving a baby a bath! ...And from my research, when it stoped being routine - breastfeeding rates were also seen to drop. Anyone here who has had a baby who has had tongue tie interfere with their breastfeeding, will know how I feel about this and will know what I am on about.

So...would you, if you were in that position, do it yourself? Have you done it yourself? Do you know someone who has? Thoughts? etc

[calpurnia]

Just quickly, don't see why you think it would take months? All the babies I know of with tongue ties had them clipped within days.

[ann_of_loxley]

Well you know the nhs! lol
And as I said in post above - the person I know who went to have it done had to wait 4 months.

[calpurnia]

Ah, I missed that. Well, talk to your midwife. The women I know locally who have had babies with tongue ties have had it snipped by a paed within days, via self referral to the lactation counsellor at the hospitals.

Don't know about doing it yourself...

[Patrick's mummy]

I'm in the UK too. I think there is huge variation between areas. However, I would not wait 4 mths. I have had a lot of "negotiations" with the NHS over various issues in the last few years and quickly learnt that making a fuss helps *a lot.* So, if you think the baby has a tongue tie, insist the midwife makes a referral NOW. If not done, you can immediately escalate this through a complaint - copy in the NCT, LLL etc and send ("signed for") to the CEO of the hospital your midwife works through, demanding an appointment within a week. You could even write up this letter antenatally so that you don't have to stress yourself out with it afterwards.

It may be helpful for you to speak with a local BFing counsellor who will have experience of how long other people have waited and who does it in your area. If you can get a name of someone who has a TT clinic, you could then contact them yourself and harrass them in the unlikely event that the above doesn't work!

I had a friend who did her baby's TT herself with a sharp fingernail and she said it was fine. If you feel confident, I see no reason not to.

[veganone]

I would talk to your midwife before you get too worried. Maybe she knows someone who would do it for you, even if you have to private pay. Like a lactation consultant? I'd find a really good LC before the birth - my guess is that they would be the best contact for dealing with a tie.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by veganone

I would talk to your midwife before you get too worried. Maybe she knows someone who would do it for you, even if you have to private pay. Like a lactation consultant? I'd find a really good LC before the birth - my guess is that they would be the best contact for dealing with a tie.

:

I doubt an LC can do it (outside scope of practice) but they can spot a tongue-tie right after birth and make sure that someone who is qualified to clip it (midwife, family doc, pediatrician, obstetrician - in my order of preference!) can do it asap.

ETA: I would NOT do it myself. Little baby and tongue - sharp sterile scissors needed, can bleed a bit sometimes. Nope - a job for someone who has been trained to do it.

[veganone]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

ETA: I would NOT do it myself. Little baby and tongue - sharp sterile scissors needed, can bleed a bit sometimes. Nope - a job for someone who has been trained to do it.

: No way I'd try to do it myself. I made DH cut her fingernails until recently!