Lip tie/tongue tie

WiseUsagi · May 2016

Anyone else dealing with a tongue tie or lip tie? We recently figured out LO couldn't latch well because he has a bad lip tie. I'd like to get it fixed so I can actually BF and not have to EP anymore but DH doesn't want to have it done. He thinks it would be inflicting unnecessary pain on LO since he's able to still get BM from me pumping.

But it would be sooo much easier if I could nurse him but DH views fixing the lip tie as doing something that would hurt LO for my convenience

I wish I could find a way for him to latch with the lip tie but I don't think it's possible. He can't flange out his top lip. Looks like I'm EPing forever

nikkinbonnie · May 2016

My Elli was tongue tied and it was clipped when we were at the hospital. I was still bed bound from the C-section but her dad went with her and said it was an easy procedure and she barely cried. Breastfeeding is much easier so I don't regret it at all.

myla14 · May 2016

Oh goodness, your husband must not understand all the logistics of pumping. Does he want to wash the parts and bottles every time?? I would say get the clip done, although both of mine have had mild lip ties that kind of loosened up over time and didn't impede bf.

Mailmans Baby Momma · May 2016

There are lots of benefits to correcting the lip tie. Sometimes EP doesn't allow you to produce milk as long as actually breastfeeding. It can also keep LO from having a gap between the two front teeth later in life.

Here is is a good article: https://nativemothering.com/2012/04/are-there-differences-between-breastfeeding-directly-and-bottle-feeding-expressed-milk/

myla14 · May 2016

Yes, DS1 does have a big gap, fwiw!

brie_and_almonds · May 2016

L had a lip and tongue tie that we traveled to another state to have laser "released" at 4.5 months. Honestly, shortly before the trip, nursing had improved and things were kind of getting better anyway, so I am really not sure how much of a difference it made, but we did have success nursing for 2+ years after that.

If they had said R had a tongue tie and offered to clip it in the hospital, I would have gone for it, but if I had to decide to do it again at 4.5 months, I am not sure if I would because she was obviously in pain for a few days, and I felt awful that we had "chosen" to do that to her.

An influential thing that helped us decide to have L's ties "zapped" was that DH's boss had had to have his own tongue tie clipped at a much older age (six I think) because it was impeding his speech, and he could remember having it done. Also, there was some discussion that a released tongue may help shape the palate to be wider and less likely to need braces down the line (not sure if there's actually reasearch to back that up or not). We figured if we were potentially helping prevent other problems, that justified the costs.

imrachellea · May 2016

DD1 had one that made breastfeeding VERY time consuming and I also felt bruised all the time. It wasn't diagnosed until 2 months. Depending on the severity of it will depend on the fix. We were lucky that hers was slight (hence why it went unnoticed for 2 months) and a simple fix. We went to an ENT who did a quick clip while I held her still. She cried, yes, and it bled a little but the doctor had me immediately nurse her for comfort and that was it. By the time we left the doctor you'd never know she had it done.

korpatch · May 2016

My Eliot is recovering from a tongue and lip tie that we had released two days ago. He handled it really well and it's healing. His were bad enough they would have interfered with more than just nursing. However, it didn't magically fix overnight. I haven't noticed any difference in nursing which is a total bummer because that is the main reason we did it. I'll post more in a week when I know more one way or the other.

K&Elizabeth · May 2016

I'm pretty sure that T has an upper lip tie. Nursing never worked out with DD and, out if curiosity, I looked at her upper lip. Sure enough, I think she has one too. Plus there is a gap between her 2 front teeth. I'm debating on whether or not I should get it checked out. T is nursing okay for the most part. We have to use a sheild because of my anatomy, but he's gaining weight well.

amaniupendo · May 2016

I would fix it if the doctor recommends it. My DD's was watched by her pedi, but it never affected nursing so it was never recommended. Her tongue tie was also checked when she was having speech problems, but again it didn't affect her speech.

jonesl12 · May 2016

Adalynn has an upper lip tie and the only issue it's causing is a little extra gas so I flip up her lip for her when she latches and have had no issues really. My LC said its definately tied but since I have no pain , she's gaining weight, and the gas is tolerable to just leave it

korpatch · May 2016

The only thing with a lip tie like that is that it can cause dental and speech problems later... But if you aren't having any issues, I guess you can wait till they are older. I'm glad the accompanying tongue tie ( they've rarely found the lip tie present without the tongue tie) isn't causing any problems too!

runningwild · May 2016

jonesl12 said:

Adalynn has an upper lip tie and the only issue it's causing is a little extra gas so I flip up her lip for her when she latches and have had no issues really. My LC said its definately tied but since I have no pain , she's gaining weight, and the gas is tolerable to just leave it

Is it causing her to burp a lot? Is she swallowing air because of it? My LO burps like crazy and I can't figure out why.... wonder if it could be a lip and/or tongue tie.

WiseUsagi · May 2016

After doing lots of research I think I'm going to ask the pediatrician about correcting the lip tie and double check that there is no posterior tongue tie at his 2 month appointment. I'd rather him have it done now while he won't remember it than wait and have it be more of a problem. I showed DH how other issues can arise from ties and he's on board now as well.

korpatch · May 2016

Most pediatricians aren't really qualified to even find ties (or believe in them). Our pediatrician said he didn't have any. We went to a specialist who found a three in both tongue and lip. I would look for a specialist in your area if your pediatrician isn't one.

WiseUsagi · May 2016

korpatch said:

Most pediatricians aren't really qualified to even find ties (or believe in them). Our pediatrician said he didn't have any. We went to a specialist who found a three in both tongue and lip. I would look for a specialist in your area if your pediatrician isn't one.

How do you even go about finding a specialist? If not a ped then what sort of provider will evaluate/treat it?

korpatch · May 2016

Usually pediatric dentists. But you'll have to do your research. If it's done wrong, it might have to be redone. The guy I went to has people coming to see him from all around the Midwest.

brie_and_almonds · May 2016

korpatch said:

Usually pediatric dentists. But you'll have to do your research. If it's done wrong, it might have to be redone. The guy I went to has people coming to see him from all around the Midwest.

Is he in Dayton, OH by chance?

korpatch · May 2016

No. Unfortunately. His name was Dr Prater in Olathe, KS. I have some friends in Cincinnati,Oh. I'll ask them for you. That's close... Ish... to Dayton.

brie_and_almonds · May 2016

korpatch said:

No. Unfortunately. His name was Dr Prater in Olathe, KS. I have some friends in Cincinnati,Oh. I'll ask them for you. That's close... Ish... to Dayton.

Oh no, I don't need someone, I was just curious as to whether you had seen the same person who did L's frenotomy, and he was in Dayton. When we were there, there was another family from Oregon having their baby's frenotomy done, which made me feel better about driving the five hours from Michigan for it.

korpatch · May 2016

People came from Arizona and Nebraska to see the guy we went to. Apparently specialist are rare? Either way, it didn't help us at all. We have a check in with him on Tuesday. I know he's the best in the surrounding states, but everyone makes mistakes, right? I believe he missed part of the tie.

jonesl12 · May 2016

runningwild said:

jonesl12 said:

Adalynn has an upper lip tie and the only issue it's causing is a little extra gas so I flip up her lip for her when she latches and have had no issues really. My LC said its definately tied but since I have no pain , she's gaining weight, and the gas is tolerable to just leave it

Is it causing her to burp a lot? Is she swallowing air because of it? My LO burps like crazy and I can't figure out why.... wonder if it could be a lip and/or tongue tie.

Yes. She's hard to burp tho so she has terrible gas pains.

she can't flange her lip up unless I do it. It will eventually go back to being sucked in during a feeding so at that point she doesn't have a good seal and she gets more air.
plus I have a crazy letdown and dang near drowns her so she gulps alot.

cjbwifey2010 · May 2016

I am an SLP and would highly recommend getting it taken care of as soon as possible. This can give issues when feeding solids down the line, and of course speech. I see a lot of kids with this, and when they get the procedure done, they need to learn how to control their tongues (literally) so it's better to get it done now so that you can avoid having more issues later down the line. Just my opinion.

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