Hi,
So after a 1000+km round trip to Sydney we got DD2's tongue tie snipped on Tuesday. I can't believe something so simple couldn't be done here
DD cried for about 30secs and the whole thing took 30mins including the feed after.
Anyway unfortunately DD is still having some issues attaching and is still hurting me. My nipples and breasts are so sore. I just wish they would get better. I spoke to the LC who referred me today and she agreed that DD has possibly developed some habits and needs relearn how to attach properly with her mouth nice and wide. She has advised me not to express and bottle feed but if it is still a problem next Tuesday we might give nipple shields a go. DD is also struggling even more with my flow now as she can really stimulate my breasts properly now so seems to have extra wind. Not sure what to do about this.
So my questions are
If you have had your child's t-t snipped was the bf improved instantly or did it take a little while to see results? What did you do to get bf happening 'normally'?
If you have used nipple shields were you able to stop using them eventually? After how long? I hated them with DD1 but will definitely give them a go again if i have to.
How long did it personally take you and your child to 'get' bf to where it was a comfortable experience? t-t or not?
I guess your baby is about 6 weeks now? Sorry things haven't magically sorted themselves out
My DS had a mild tongue tie, which we were advised dint' need clipping so we didn't. It was, however, 11 weeks before he could attach comfortably, despite 3 LCs telling me my technique was perfect. I ended up using a nipple shield most of the time for about 7 weeks.
DD doesn't have a tongue tie, but got off to a rough start and I had to retrain her a bit. It took a few weeks I think before it was all comfortable. I only had some slight grazing this time though, so I never experienced the *YIKE* pain I did with DS.
Can you clear your calendar so you don't have to do anything else and just hang out with your baby? That will make it heaps easier for you to do this. They can relearn with a bit of perseverence. I hope you can get it fixed very soon.
MadB -Thanks. I guess i was really hoping for a magic cure but remain positive. I can hang out with DD to some degree but DD1 has needs that need to be met as well and can be quite demanding as 2 yr olds are. Dh is working long hours atm so just don't think it's doable to solely focus on DD2 when i'm pulled in so many directions by the whole family iykwim? I have to spread the love so to speak. That being said it's just DD2 and i at home tomorrow so will have some skin to skin and try some more baby led attachment i think and see how that goes. Is that what you were thinking would be helpful?
I am having terrible trouble with my dd's attachment and suck and she's not even tongue tied. We've had muscle work done but same as your LC said most of its habit now. We just have to keep working on it and hope she figures it out one day. It's frustrating I know. I now have mastitis because her suck is so bad.
With the flow my dd doesn't cope with mine at all. I lay down nearly flat on my back with her laying vertical, her attachment is even worse this way but we end up with major breast refusal if I don't feed her uphill.
With the nipple shields I tried some the other day with dd and she wouldn't have a bar of them. My LC said at 6 weeks she knows the difference. So your dd may not even accept them.
I figure every week her mouth is getting bigger, she's getting bigger. It has to get better right.
Oh hun, I am sorry that things are so tough. I really had my fingers crossed for you that the snip would do the trick
I was using nipple shields before DS's t-t was snipped at 3 weeks. It was the only way he could attach at all. After the snip, he attached immediately without the shield and had a great feed. I found that it took another 3 weeks though before we could get through every feed without shields, and at times after that I would have a day or two of painful feeding. I think it did take him awhile to get used to his "new mouth" and how to attach once he could move his tongue properly. The night feeds were last ones we got right - with both of us sleepy it was trickier than the other feeds. The good news with the shields though is that I was able to ditch them totally and I know many others who were able to too.
I know it's still tough for you, but I'm glad that you've had made some progress. Hopefully you are just a small step away from pain-free feeding
Well I had a pain free feed through the night on the left side - woohoo!!!
I am having more trouble with the other side but that breast is bigger and seems to get really full which i think DD has trouble with. I'm really perservering with the big mouth though and if it feels wrong i've been breaking her off which feels like it is continual sometimes. Hopefully i will be able to give the sheilds a miss if she continues to make progress like she has been.
Thanks everyone, i feel really positive this morning. Fingers crossed it keeps getting better.
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