experiences with tongue tie release?

[Mica]

we just went to the ENT doctor today where they finally found LOs tongue tie and did a frenotomy(sp?). LO will be 8 weeks tomorrow, and doctor said that due to his age and because he's been feeding that way for 8 weeks that it may take 3-4 weeks before we notice a difference, AND there's a chance it might not make a difference. I'm hopeful that it WILL be something that helps us, however, I wasn't expecting that it might take another few weeks to get going. the saga continues! no one can say we didn't try our hearts out!
anyone had a tongue tie release done at this age or later and have encouragement for us? obviously we aren't giving up, but I could use a morale boost as we still have a ways to go, apparently.

 

[Egyptiangirl]

YES!!!!

Dont give up, I had the exact same scenario!! LO had frenulotomy at 8 weeks and it took probably a month before he started really feeding well and fast!! He now feeds perfectly and in a couple of mins flat! Lol!! LO had to forget what he was doing and learn the proper technique all over again so it takes awhile. But, in some ways, we saw improvement within a week or so. LO stopped gagging and chucking up after and during feeds and didn't get so distraught during a feed also. So, please stick with it!! Its so easy and enjoyable now, you will reap the rewards in a couple of weeks and it's so worth it!!

 

[Mica]

Thanks for that response! Did you happen to have any issues with supply? I don't know if mine is low, per se, but what I come up with in a pump session is about half of what LO takes in a bottle. I'm taking fenugreek to try to keep it up/increase it.
Did you do anything special to help your LO to "get it"? Did you notice little improvements at a time? Or was there an 'aha' moment?
Thanks for your encouragement. Seeing my LO in pain today has almost had me questioning if I did the right thing. It's so hard to hear him whimpering because his tongue hurts. Hopefully we'll see improvement soon.

 

[Egyptiangirl]

It was a gradual improvement but did they tell u about the massage treatment to do every day to promote healing and prevent reoccurrence? I didn't have a problem with supply cos I was told to feed every 3 hrs for about a week after the snip and breast milk is a natural pain killer. But remember that lo will extract way more milk than u can pump so u cant judge accurately how much milk u have by how much u pump. Try lactation cookies for your supply, drink loads of water and nap in the afternoon if u can as this helps supply apparently.

 

[Care76]

Hi Mica. We have had 3 releases done on our baby boy. The first was in the hospital when he was two days old and the doctor didn't release it nearly far enough back. I didn't realize that though and I went to the International Breastfeeding Centre when he was almost three months old because I knew there was still something wrong (nursing was painful, baby had reflux, and I suspected low supply). They told me he needed it done again and they did it again. Two weeks later they said it started to re-attach and when he was 4 months old it was done for the last time and this time it stuck. It did take a couple months to really have a great latch with no pain, but most of the pain was gone after a couple weeks. I have to take domperidone though for my supply issues.

I didn't notice an exact day where feeding got better, it just kind of happened slowly. Be patient, it can take your little one a while to learn how to latch properly. He is still young, I am sure it will happen. My LO never used to stick his tongue out over his bottom gum and so it always felt like sandpaper on my nipples and the bottoms were bruised, but it got better! He now sticks his tongue out over his bottom gum and latches around my nipple with no pain.

Good luck!

 

[IrelandsOwn]

My daughter had posterior and anterior TTs snipped and it did take a few weeks for her to latch better. I know a few weeks sounds like a helluva long time right now but hang in there. One day it will become noticeably less painful and that will be a good day

 

[Mica]

It was a gradual improvement but did they tell u about the massage treatment to do every day to promote healing and prevent reoccurrence?

No, the doctor just told us to give it time and that was all. Can you describe it?

In follow-up to my previous question, will it be apparent when he is feeding correctly? When your LOs did finally feed the right way for the first time, did they revert at all to their old technique? Or once they got it, did they do it right every time after that? Sometimes I think I feel a difference and hope that he has turned a corner, but then he'll feed funky again the next time.
I don't think we're there yet... Honestly, feeding hasn't been too painful for the past week or two, even before the frenulotomy. But I still don't feel that he's feeding efficiently. He starts and stops and stays on the boob until I take him off (I give him 20 minutes on each one). Swallowing is sporadic. He likes to "slurp" my nipple into his mouth, and sucks his upper lip in too. I flip it out with my finger. So... if he latches incorrectly, should I be taking him off and trying to get him to do it the "right" way? How do I even do that? I've gotten to a point that if it isn't too painful, I'll just let him go like that.
:sigh:
surely one day all these questions and doubts will be a thing of the past. Thank you ladies for your responses and encouragement. I know we'll get there.

 

[Care76]

The massages I was told to do are too make sure it doesn't reattach, but my son's did anyway. You put your finger under their tongue and push in where the cut was and sweep your finger from side to side. I was also told to run my finger around the outside of his bottom gum and get him to follow it with his tongue. You can also put your finger on their tongue with the nail up and try to get them to stuck and as the stuck you pull your finger in and out a bit and they should try to keep your finger there so it works the tongue.

My son still has some days where he latches wrong so it comes and goes. It just seemed like one day I couldn't remember it hurting that week or the next or if it did it didn't the next time.

Sometimes I am just happy my son is eating when I know his latch is wrong and even though I was told to break latch and try again (put your pinky finger in the corner of his mouth and he will release) I rarely do.

If your son's top lip isn't flaring out I wonder if he is lip tied too? My son is and I swear that is why he still sometimes doesn't latch right.

 

[lau86]

My Sons tongue tie was clipped at 6 weeks and it took about 6 weeks for things to be better, they slowly improved in that time. I can't quite remember as it was a while ago now but I think he had to learn a different latch, so feeding was still not good from time to time. If its not too painful I would let him feed. I was in horrendous pain feeding and its so great when that goes.
We were just told to stick our tongues out at him in the hope he would copy, and this helps prevent recurrence?!