Since coming home with our twins, Cole and Luke, we have had some issues nursing. The first thing I noticed was a clicking and feeling that they were not getting the breast in far enough to be effective at eating. I started using nipple shields to try to help with this problem thinking that maybe their mouths were too small to be able to nurse effectively. However, during one practice nursing session, I started to feel pain while nursing, even with a shield.
After doing some research online, I was suspicious that maybe both of the boys had tongue tie. Later that week, we had a visit from our lactation consultant ( @ Breastfeeding Essentials) and she confirmed that they appear to have tongue tie and encouraged me to get them in to visit with the doctor as soon as possible.
The problem is an easy fix and with infants does not require anesthesia. Several infants have this procedure done in the newborn nursery after birth. They should have caught Luke and Cole’s tongue tie in the NICU, but there were so many other things that they were focusing on.
In our area, many doctors are old school when it comes to breast feeding, so I was a little concerned that I might have to fight to get this done. However, I was pleasantly surprised when our pediatricians office called back quickly to set up a referral to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. We go this afternoon.
I am a little nervous about taking them. After they get this procedure done, we should be ready to start nursing full-time as long as we don’t run into any other problems. I have wanted this for so long, but I am afraid of this not helping with their latch issues.
Anyone else have tongue tie issues in your family? How did you discover it, did you have a frenotomy, and was it helpful?
Click here to Read the Update to Frenulum or Foe.
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About Jamie
My oldest was tongue tied. It was the LC that noticed it durring our first nursing session. She said that his wasn’t super bad and thought we could work past it. I was sore for a few weeks as we continued to nurse. His streched out so nursing was no longer an issue.
Miles had his snipped before we left the hospital when he was born. The hospital’s LC noticed it right away (also probably at his first nursing session, Lois!). It wasn’t a big deal at all and I’m grateful for all the help we had getting us through the first year of breastfeeding!
The procedure went really well yesterday. Both boys were indeed tongue tied,and they had the skin under their tongues (frenulum) clipped. I will share a more detailed update soon!