To snip or not to snip?

Tongue tie.

Bubba was born with a pretty tight frenulum and the midwife said she wouldn't cut it unless it was a problem with feeding. Well, it hasn't been a problem at all - he has been putting on weight like a trooper (to the extent my midwife has written in his Well Child book about his double chin and sumo wrestler rolls....). Sometimes he does lose a bit of suction and accidentally clamps down on my nipple - it does hurt a bit he hasn't ruined my nipples or anything.

I had my last midwife appointment last week and she mentioned the tongue tie again and said that Plunket and Doctors may tell me it would be best to snip it. She said that it could affect his speech later on and ability to lick an ice cream. Sure enough the Plunket Nurse that came the next day told me to think seriously about snipping it.

Anyway! My question is whether any of you have left your babies with tongue tie and did it affect speech later on? Do they grow out of it (the tongue tie and/or the speech problems) or will he be stuck with a lisp if I leave it?

I'm assuming his tongue tie can't be THAT bad if it is not affecting his feeding (could be wrong though).But I have no problems with having it cut if that is going to be best for him - I know that it is a relatively quick and not too painful procedure. What are your guys thoughts on the matter?

TIA

Best thing to do what be to sit down with your dr and get all the information.
If it is something that you will want done, sooner is definitely better than later.

I've had two children with tongue ties. First child (nearly 11 years ago) no one mentioned snipping hers. I had major problems feeding her, but no one seemed interested in helping or doing anything. Her speech seems fine, the school haven't said anything about any problems there.

My 7 week old son was diagnosed with a mild/moderate tongue tie at a week old. Midwife didn't suggest snipping it as, like your little one, he was feeding well and stacking on the weight. At 3 weeks old feeding was getting a bit painful. Nothing like the problems with DD, but still a bit sore. I went to see a lactation consultant who recommended we get it snipped. A week later he got it done and feeding has been so much easier since. It wasn't the big painful experience I was afraid it would be. The doctor made him cry by holding his arms above his head, snipped it, then handed DS to dad and DS was fine. No blood.

The lactation consultant did say one thing: if its done before baby is 6 weeks its free. But if baby is over 6 weeks it costs money. Around $180 she said.

Spencer has a tongue tie, his was not snipped and his has pretty much out grown. mw at hospital said about snipping it so I asked paed that came to check him cos he had jaundice and he was very adamant that I not let anyway snip it. So far his speech sounds just fine, or as fine as speech can sound for a 2 year old anyway. He can now poke his tongue out but not that far but I would think that will improve with time as the paed said that the tongue just grows out past the tie. His tongue used to be forked like a snake tongue but is no longer like that.

I would maybe talk to your GP as I expect that having it snipped probably depends a lot on how bad the tie is, if it's not severe and will out grow I don't see the point in doing it.

My neice was tounge tied and her mother didnt want to get it snipped, well she is 5 now and my brother just had to go get it done as it was affecting her speech and the school was commenting on it.
IMO Id get it done asap when they are born so they don't have troubles with speech etc later on