Not an emergency and nothing really to worry about but thought I'd report on it anyway.
I had booked a GP appointment yesterday regarding Oscar's tongue tie as suggested by the midwife (and because of what Dannii and Evie have been though with feeding etc.). The GP said that she was unable to refer us to the hospital unless there was weight gain problems. Unluckily (or luckily for us in this case) the HV had weighed him that day and he had lost weight again so is nowhere near his birth weight
The GP rang the hospital straight away and got us an appointment for today to see a doctor on the childrens ward. She said that it is very rare that they will actually perform the releasing procedure unless there is continued weight loss and that they would need to observe him feeding so to make sure we take him there a bit hungry.
At the hospital he was weighed again, same as yesterday 9lb (14oz under his birth weight at 2 weeks 5 days). The nurse who watched me feed him (with nipple shield on ) said that he was latching really well and that I seemed really relaxed feeding him, which was nice to hear. She said that there was little chance of the doctor agreeing to release the tongue tie because he is feeding so well so I asked why he was still losing if he was feeding so well. She said we could weigh him after his feed and work out how much he's had to make sure he's feeding effectively. In a 30 minute feed he took in about 40 ml which they said was good for his age and with breastfeeding. The doctor then came in to examine him and said he was very healthy but with a severe but thin tongue tie. He made us an appointment for just under two weeks time, if Oscar is still losing or not gaining they will do the procedure but if he gains they won't.
Contrary to a lot of the research I have read on the internet, especially work done by Dr Merv Griffiths at Southampton hospital, the doctor was of the opinion that tongue ties rarely make a difference where feeding is concerned and hardly ever impair speech/pronunciation. I am finding that hard to believe as I have had to resort to nipple shields as Oscar is unable to latch onto my boob as it just isn't long enough and he keeps falling off it. I attribute the falling off to having his tongue anchored and not being able to use the tip to retain grasp - he has the same problem with dummies. I know I'm lucky to have found that nipple shields work for us, I'd just like to not have to carry around a container of milton'd water with the nipple shields in it in case I want to feed.
We're thinking of trying to get it done privately if we have to. Does anyone have any experience of having done this privately?
Thanks
I had booked a GP appointment yesterday regarding Oscar's tongue tie as suggested by the midwife (and because of what Dannii and Evie have been though with feeding etc.). The GP said that she was unable to refer us to the hospital unless there was weight gain problems. Unluckily (or luckily for us in this case) the HV had weighed him that day and he had lost weight again so is nowhere near his birth weight
The GP rang the hospital straight away and got us an appointment for today to see a doctor on the childrens ward. She said that it is very rare that they will actually perform the releasing procedure unless there is continued weight loss and that they would need to observe him feeding so to make sure we take him there a bit hungry.At the hospital he was weighed again, same as yesterday 9lb (14oz under his birth weight at 2 weeks 5 days). The nurse who watched me feed him (with nipple shield on ) said that he was latching really well and that I seemed really relaxed feeding him, which was nice to hear. She said that there was little chance of the doctor agreeing to release the tongue tie because he is feeding so well so I asked why he was still losing if he was feeding so well. She said we could weigh him after his feed and work out how much he's had to make sure he's feeding effectively. In a 30 minute feed he took in about 40 ml which they said was good for his age and with breastfeeding. The doctor then came in to examine him and said he was very healthy but with a severe but thin tongue tie. He made us an appointment for just under two weeks time, if Oscar is still losing or not gaining they will do the procedure but if he gains they won't.
Contrary to a lot of the research I have read on the internet, especially work done by Dr Merv Griffiths at Southampton hospital, the doctor was of the opinion that tongue ties rarely make a difference where feeding is concerned and hardly ever impair speech/pronunciation. I am finding that hard to believe as I have had to resort to nipple shields as Oscar is unable to latch onto my boob as it just isn't long enough and he keeps falling off it. I attribute the falling off to having his tongue anchored and not being able to use the tip to retain grasp - he has the same problem with dummies. I know I'm lucky to have found that nipple shields work for us, I'd just like to not have to carry around a container of milton'd water with the nipple shields in it in case I want to feed.
We're thinking of trying to get it done privately if we have to. Does anyone have any experience of having done this privately?
Thanks
) We'll soon see I guess..
2 weeks seems like a long wait..
I suppose it is good that he hasn't lost anymore but not as good as gaining some. They said to ring them if we are worried but that the HVs don't work at weekends. The HV is coming round on Tuesday to weigh him again. I think I'm going to have to attach him permanently to my boob all weekend to see if it makes a difference. 
