Hospital Visit today

Mildly

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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
 
Hi hun i have been waiting to see how today has gone.

I do hope that they will deal with the tongue tie, TBH i dont think it takes that much to do so i still dont understand as to why they dont just do it now, rather than you wait two weeks and have the chance that baby loses or doesnt gain weight.

Sorry dont know anything about having it done privately.
 
I'm so glad you've been to get it checked out hun! I'm sorry they're being such a pain about it... It really is such a simple procedure and apparently works wonders for feeding. (TBH, I'm not sure if Evie's tongue tie clipping has worked because my nipples are still so sore from just over 3 weeks of continuous chomping :lol: ) We'll soon see I guess..

Anyway, I've no idea about getting it done privately, but I'd say it's well worth it. The hassle of the nipple shields is a flaming nightmare! (I did it for a few days) and it's just soooo frustrating to not be able to whack out your boob plain & simple and get baby to latch on it!!

I hope you get it sorted hun... Good luck xx

*********************
Evie = Nipple Destroyer :evil:
 
Dont know much about this Mildly but I do hope you get this sorted out one way or the other. This will be offered Privately too so why not try and see if they would maybe see you and Oscar on a consultation and give advice. Might be worthwhile.. :hug: 2 weeks seems like a long wait..
 
Thanks ladies :hug:

Charlie, thanks for the reply :hug: I realise they are trying to avoid an unnecessary procedure but it just seems so different to other Health Authorities view on tongue ties. It isn't like it is a major operation although they seem so reluctant - I just don't get it!

Dannii, fingers crossed Evie will be feeding like a dream as soon as your nips are less sore :hug: I would love to be able to just get my boob out and pop him on without the palaver of the shield :D

Neev I think we will look into the private route, it shouldn't cost too much for a consultation. The only thing I worry about in this area is that it is mostly the same doctors who work both private and NHS they just divide their time between the two. I'm wondering if they think it an unnecessary procedure on the NHS, they may also think that privately too :think:
 
Mildly - Even though they are the same doctors, they work set number of days in NHS and set for private. In private they wont refuse because there is no "queue" and you are paying them - unless ofcourse they think medically they should NOT do it due to health reasons. You should have the procedure/appointment/consultation done within a short period of time. Sometimes after the consultation the doc will often say - I am in the NHS hospital tomorrow- come and see me there ! Happened to me a few times..

If I had not been seen by the Paedetrician when I was concerned, then the next morning we were going to go private because each day seems like an eternity when we see our little ones in discomfort. I dont mind waiting myself for weeks or months because atleast we can speak, talk about our problems and deal with it in some way or another, our little ones are just depending on us and our instincts.

Gosh I sound like a weepy cow :( :hug:
 
Aww Neev :hug: I know exactly how you feel :hug: I've never been privately before (which is why I'm so clueless about how it all works :lol: - thanks for explaining it) and probably wouldn't for me, but Oscar is different - I'd move heaven and earth for him!

Just had the HV's assistant round to weigh him and his is the same weight as yesterday and the day before :( Probably didn't help that he'd had a large poo just before she came round :roll: 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.

I just don't understand why he isn't gaining :cry:
 

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