Breastfeeding with a tongue tie.

[Dessssy]

Hi,

My baby is 13 days old, has a tongue tie but still breast feeds. He doesn’t seem to get full after feeding for a good 30 mins, I still need to top him up with expressed milk or formula.

Can anybody give me some advice please.

Ps. His getting his tongue tie cut on Friday.

[Seb9]

If his tongue tie isn't causing you too much pain, just keep him on the breast as much as possible, he'll be upping your supply to make the amount he needs.

As long as he's having wet and dirty nappies and gains weight, then you don't need to do the top ups just let him feed feed feed.

For me those first few weeks were really hard, lots of crying baby and me feeling stressed that I wasn't getting it right.

I read up a lot on purple crying and the fourth trimester and that helped me a lot.

It'll feel like you don't put your boobs away for those first few weeks. I'm sure every visitor who came to see me got an eyefull!

Best of luck with the tongue tie xx

[Ami1000]

Hi,

Once you’ve had the tongue tie corrected you’ll notice a world of difference to the feeding. We had the same with our son who couldn’t feed very well at all until it was released. I’d continue with what you’re doing until then.

Once he’s had the correction he’ll have to learn how to use his tongue all over again to feed properly. Whoever does the procedure should go through some exercises with you to help him.

We sought the advice of a lactation consultant as well just so that I could get to 100% breastfeeding as I was like you and topping up with formula. Do not feel guilty about that - you have to feed your baby and fed is better than not fed. Believe it or not you can improve the situation and at the 6 week mark we had managed to move to 100% breastfeeding. Our son had the correction at 8 days old but we had just gone into lockdown and the NHS services were cut right back so it took a while longer for us to get there.

But if you’re determined you will get there, you’re doing a great job so far mummy!

[SriShell1920]

Thankfully, he's getting tongue tie cut; my experience of that procedure is that the NHS are very caring; but you need to get the right midwifery team to deal with the little op. It's a simple / effective procedure, but for a new mum very worrying; despite the after bleeding, go straight on the breast, and ask for a caring home environment at the hospital, if possible. Take wet wipes, cloths, favourite toy, have a comfortable bra and pack a few extras for both you and baby. You can ask to stay with him, he will cry, but at so young will never remember.

I pray that you have a excellent team at the NHS that understand the importance of this, and they do the op swiftly, knowledgeable and with caring. " you can ask for the right environment, and ask who will do the snip, how many of these procedures they have done in the past etc.

My son had one of the worst tongue ties, count '0' on the scale, he is now 5 and I can't imagine how he would have been without this op. I do wish you the very best of luck, stay calm.

[Dessssy]

Thank you for your lovely replies ladies, I will keep putting him on the breast and top him up with formula until the tongue tie is cut, just so he doesn’t forget how to latch.

My daughter was born with tongue tie too but she didn’t latch at all even after getting it cut so I was really gutted, this time round I was all prepared to breastfeed because it’s such an amazing thing to do. I just hope it gets easier after his tongue tie is cut😭

[claire16c]

Keep going sounds like you’re doing really well! You could see if nipple shields help until Friday, keep expressing and using that milk too.

If you notice he’s not swallowing much and taking a long time to feed after some time on the breast, you can switch him to the other side. Make sure to offer both sides each feed. And you can go back and offer the first again too. Then see if he still needs a top up.

If you have problems after the snip, get in contact with a local IBCLC, peer Supporters or call the National breastfeeding helpline.