In my previous posts about tongue ties (Part 1, Part 2), we had finished the revision on Little Bug’s tongue and we were just starting the aftercare/recovery.
Little Bug’s tongue revision was a little over two months ago, and the change in him is astronomical. My little screamer has become the happiest little man ever. The difference really is remarkable. The initial recovery was a bit rough, especially with the exercises/stretching we had to do with him. We started with 6 times a day, never going more than 6 hours between stretches, including overnight. I did a majority of the stretches, which was hard and towards the end it was really annoying too because Little Bug hated them so much and he was soooo strong. For the first three weeks after the procedure, it is the 6 times a day routine, then for the last week you taper by one stretch per day. Another tongue tie mommy on here recommended that I continue the stretches periodically for the next month, so I did and I think that that has helped a lot.
About a week after the procedure, I met with a lactation consultant and she gave me a few extra exercises to do with Little Bug and that was pretty helpful as well. I met with her two additional times and we found that Little Bug’s tie did grow back, but apparently all clipped ties grow back around 10%, so there was no reason to panic. We struggled a bit as Little Bug got used to the mobility of his tongue and re-learned how to eat, but after about 4 weeks, we were in a really good groove. Each time I met with the lactation consultant, we weighed Little Bug and he started gaining weight like crazy, so that was really positive. In the last month, we’ve been able to wean him off his reflux meds entirely and his actual reflux seems to be gone.
Yesterday we went in for his 6 month check up and he has gained two and a half pounds since the procedure and he is back on track in his weight and height percentiles. It seems like in the last week or so he has really packed on some weight and his overall demeanor has been spectacular. I honestly cannot believe how much of a difference there is between my cranky unhappy 8 week old and my happy giggly 6 month old today. He is a different baby entirely and this means that the bond I have with him is ridiculously strong. There is a slight possibility that Little Bug may need some speech therapy as he gets older, but hopefully with the revision being done so early on, this will not be the case. I was also a little worried about his ability to move onto solids, but he is an absolute champ with them, so that is a relief.
I am so happy with the results that I sent a gushing letter to the ENT specialist telling him how much of a difference he had made in our lives. I sing his praises to everyone I meet, so hopefully this issue can gain some knowledge in my community and more moms and babies can get the help they need to have a successful breastfeeding relationship.
To any other mommies out there who have a child with a tongue tie and you are considering revision, it isn’t as bad as it seems. The procedure and recovery suck, but the difference afterwards is definitely worth it. And remember, the healthiest breastfeeding relationships are mutually healthy for both mom and baby. If you need to have the revision done, you are not being selfish and you are not having something done that is cosmetic. Babies who can suck properly are much happier and moms who are not in pain/distress from breastfeeding are apt to breastfeed longer and to have a more fulfilling view of breastfeeding as a whole.
persimmon / 1328 posts
Loved reading this! My son had his ptt clipped at 5.5 months and it was truly life changing
fwiw, he has just turned 2 and his speech is brilliant.
guest
Such a wonderful outcome! My little girl just turned 7 weeks and she also had a posterior tongue tie. Fortunately she was only a week old when it was diagnosed by an amazing Lactation Consultant whom I saw after failing our third weight check. The posterior tongue tie was missed by the LC at the hospital and an ENT that we saw initially to clip her obvious anterior tongue tie. There definitely needs to be more education about posterior tongue ties as it contributes so much to breastfeeding. Once my daughter’s was clipped she started gaining rapidly because she could finally suck!
persimmon / 1281 posts
I’m so happy to hear that the procedure made a difference!!! I, like you, talk about my LO’s tie with other moms all the time in hopes of making people more aware. Ours was also missed by 3 hospital Lactation consultants & 2 peds before it was caught by a chiropractor. I honestly think it saved our nursing relationship!!!
grapefruit / 4466 posts
I know this post is quite old now, but just wanted to thank you for writing this. I have a 9 week old and our situation seems similar to what you went through – poor weight gain, feeding difficulties, reflux, mastitis and painful breastfeeding for me. We are trying to get in to an ENT now as the lactation consultant thinks he has a tongue tie. You give me hope that things can get easier!