babies tongue defect!!!!! help!!!!!

Hi all

Not sure how to start of with this or how to explain it. I'll do my best.

I have a 7 month old son born through IVF and have just noticed last night that he seems to have some thing wrong with his tongue.

You know under your tongue you have like a piece of skin that attaches to you tongue not sure what it is called but if you lift your tongue you can see it or feel it. Well I noticed that when he opens his mouth to eat or cries ive notice that he seems to have 2 and that in between the 2 there is a hole. Can anyone help me as im not sure if maybe babies start off that way or weather there is some thing wrong. Just abit worried as he was IVF and if it is a defect what else could there be interal.

very worried

Missy:confused:

Sweety don't panic. It sounds like a tongue-tie. It's not internal and it's not dangerous. Speak you your GP. SOmetimes they resolve themselves and sometimes theyneed a little intervention. But ring your GP this morning if you're worried.

Thanks so much Kim...I will do that

Missy

Yep, it sounds like a tongue tie to me too.

Hi again

What is a tongue tie and will it need an operation if it wont fix itself?????


Missy

Which state are you in?
Its where the frenulum (I don't know how to spell this!) is shorter than normal, and often restricts mobility of the tongue.

Is it causing problems for feeding (I assume not as you'd have most likely found it before now), speech etc?

They don't always release tongue ties (snip the skin thats restricting movement), you can have it assessed though, there is a thorough process to rate the severity of it.

they Royal Womens Hospital do them in Melb, but if you're interstate your ECN/MCHN should be able to point you in the right direction, if thats what the problem is.

Hi there

Im in syd.. im just such a worry wort and cant help it!!!!...lol


Missy

Missy, I'm a paediatric nurse and we have a lot of kids come in to have a tongue tie repair done. It's a simple day stay procedure, and they do give the kids a general anaesthetic so that it can be done quickly and without fuss. The kids stay for four hours afterward (just to ensure they recover from the anaesthetic) and then go home on Panadol.

Good luck honey!

Thanks so much for your help P.kylie

I have made an appointment with the gp and its on thursday. I rang my nurse who looks after him at the clinic and i went to see her this morning but she couldnt get him to lift his tongue to look.

I hope the pg can see it.

Missy

Hi Missy,

My boy had a tongue tie. It was diagnosed in the hospital and we got a referral to a dr that specialised in it. We saw him when Louis was only about a week old and he just put anaesthetic spray on and snipped right there and then (maybe because he was younger??) He didn't cry and it didn't affect him in any way. It didn't even bleed!
We did it as it can affect speech when they grow such as giving them a lisp and at the time the dr's thought Louis might have feeding problems (he didn't)
Good Luck - let us know how you go!

Thank you all so much for your support and coments it has made me relax. Im off to the Doc tomorrow and will let you all know..

Regards
Missy

Missy, I'm glad you're feeling better about it. Jack also had a tongue-tie which meant he couldn't bf so we had it snipped like Krisvee said. It did fix his bfing and it caused him no discomfort so I'm glad we did it. I know that it's not so easy when they are a bit older though, but if it hasn't been diagnosed until now it's probably not severe and might not need anything done. Good luck with your appointment.

Hi missy,

My son also had tounge tie. He had trouble breastfeeding, but the nurses and breastfeeding consultants didn't pick up on it until I pointed it out to them (medical system in LIsmore is shocking). He was 4weeks old when we took him to get his tounge released. Just a spray of anaesthetic and snip. They gave him straight to me to feed (breast milk to help healing). All feeding problems resolved. Children who don't get released may still have problems feeding and speech problems. It's not a serious procedure, its quick, and your baby will forget that it even happened!

I agree with the other girls, sounds likea a tongue tie,
My 2nd DS also had one, although he was not diagnosed until around 2 weeks of age when I had the local early childhood nurse come to help him breastfeed. She told me that most bubs will "tear it" themselves by breastfeeding, but i had to use a sheild to feed him as his was so severe, he could not get his tongue out at all to cover his gums properly. I fed him for 16 months, and it never tore enough. Finally at 3, when he could not speak properly at all, I finally got a gp to listen to me and refer me to a specialist. His tie was at the very tip of his tongue , and he could not poke his tongue out at all (when he tried, he got a very sharp "V" shape to his tongue tip, kinda like a fat version of a snakes tongue). It was just a simple day stay at the hospital, and only about 10 minutes in theatre. But as he was repaired at such a late age, he had to have speech therapy.

My eldest son has a tongue tie too. Now hear I am going to ssound like a really bad mum because it was NEVER noticed. Wall not for about 13 years or so. He never had any real problems bfing and his speech is fine. He cannot poke out his tongue very far though and when he does it geets like a heart shape at the top of it. On the up side, he will never be able to stick his tongue down a girls throat, so that's got to be a good thing, right???? ;)

Goodluck Missy I'm sure all will be fine. Oh and the hole thing you were talking about, that's normal too, that's were saliva comes from to moisten our mouths.

Thanks so much for all your support. Im going to the doc at 12.5o today so when i get back i will let you all know how we went.

Missy

Hi all, I went to the doc and yes my son has a tongue tie but its not a bad one and most likely wont need anything done as he can feed well, pock his tongue out heaps and the doc said his speach will be fine.

So that is soooooooooo good. I just have to get him to check it again when i take him for his 1 year needles. he will check it again.

I just want to say thankyou to all who gave me info and helped me with the worry.

I so glad I posted it and you ladies replied.
Big thanks to you all.

Missy

That's great news Missy!

Missy, great to hear that the tie isn't too bad.

Great news Missy! My DD is tongue tied as well, no probs here with it, however we have been told she wont be able to get food out of her back teeth with her tongue as she can't turn it over & dig it out iykwim?

Great news Missy :D

Good to hear Missy! Isn't bb such a great resource?

Yes bb is great and im so glad for it.....thanks all so much and if this is the worst that Hpns to Callum then thats good.

Missy

Thats great Missy, glad to hear all is well.