tongue tie anyone?
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Topic: tongue tie anyone?
Posted By: AndysMummy
Subject: tongue tie anyone?
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 11:11am
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Andy was born with a severe tongue tie. We were told that he wouldn't be able to be bf and I kept being handed a spoon to feed him! We weren't really given much information about it and were really just told that it would affect his feeding and speech but it might just come right on it's own and we should just give it some time.
This week we finally saw a good doc who knows about tongue ties. He pretty much said that if it's not fixed Andy won't be able to talk. He's sent a letter off to get us on the waiting list. I'm feeling a bit cross that we weren't given more info earlier. Our usual doc didn't even know what it was! So, I'm pretty freaked out about Andy having surgery. Has anyone elses children had this done? I'm also worried that once his tongue is freed he won't know how to suck as his tongue will be in a totally different position - at the moment he can't get it past his teeth. Will Andy need to learn how to BF all over again? Cracked nipples?!! Ahhhh!! I think they are like leather now, so hopefully not a problem. A friend has suggested that this maybe why Andy isn't a very good sleeper- becuase he is struggling to feed so he can't get his tummy full enough to last the night. Boy am I glad that I've always just fed him when he has woken during the night. How bad would I now be feeling if I didn't??! I'd love to hear if you've been through this. Thanks heaps :) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 11:18am
I just wanted to say good job on managing to b/f for over 10 months! Well done! 
He looks like a really healthy happy boy. Hope all goes well and the tongue tie is fixed. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AndysMummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 11:29am
Aww thanks  Yeah I'm pretty glad that I had the strength not to listen to the midwives and kept on trying.
Congrats on being preggers. How neat  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 11:45am
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Andysmummy I have often thought Rhyley is slightly tongue tied. He can get his tongue out of his mouth (and his fav thing to do right now is having his tongue half way out) but the tip is shape like a w instead of a v. My friend has passed comment on it too. When i think back when Rhyley was BF we had a hard time getting started, he would 'muck about' before getting on for like 15 to 20 minutes before latching on. Got the la ledgue (or what eva they are called) lady to come see me and suggest whats wrong she never said tongue tied although she never looked at his we tongue neither... Interesting what Andy's tongue tip looks like??
Sorry this isn't helping you with your question as have never been told he is (although I have never brought it up) I have read about it and it says normally by the age of 3-4 its gone as the frenulum normally stretches by then. But maybe in Andy's case he needs it snipped to be able to function normally (the tongue that is not Andy )------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: AndysMummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 12:06pm
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Hi Ann, Sounds like Rhyley maybe tongue tied. Having a w shape or a heart shape at the tip is a classic symptom as the tip of the tounge is still attached to the bottom of the mouth so it gets pulled down creating a w or a heart shape.
Andys is attached by quite a lot where as mild tongue ties have only a wee bit of skin still attached which often separates on it's own. (I've been hoping that all the screaming would've stretched Andys off. But have been informed that there isn't a hpoe in hell!) The fact that Rhyley can get his tongue out of his mouth would suggest that his tie may only be mild. But it still may cause problems speech wise. The doc we saw this week reckons that Andy should be able to say words by now! Bit optimistic I would've thought! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: muppet
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 12:33pm
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Both my younger brother and I are/were tongue tied. My brother got his fixed at birth (21 years ago so I was surprised that your doctor didn't know about it) but mine is only mild so nothing was done. I did have to attend several years of speach therapy when I was young but now the only disadvantage is that I can't roll my r's! My brother also had to attend several years of speach therapy even though he got his fixed, so I guess Andy will be the same. My best friend in school was also very severly tongue-tied but still spoke fine. Sorry, I don't have any more info than that but just thought I'd let you know that we've lived through tongue-tied-ness
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 12:44pm
| I remember being told when kobe was born that there was a chance he would have one because of the cleft and that if it was the case they would fix it before he left the hospital, sorry i know that doesnt help but its a bit odd they havent looked into it by now. I used to work with a guy who was tongue tied and he spoke properly and everything, didnt have any problems. |
Posted By: AndysMummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 12:52pm
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Thanks for that. Is really appreciate hearing positive things
Thanks Claire for mentioning the speach therapy. Once it is fixed I would've just expected everything to be fine. Now I know to keep an ear out. Andy seems to be making all the same kind of sounds that other babies his age are making. I kinda think that the doc was using a wee bit of scare tactics to MAKE us get it done. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 1:13pm
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A little OT but... Some little boys just don't start talking before their first birthday. Probably little girls too but the ones I've got are rather chatty hehe. -------------  |
Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 1:19pm
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Hi AndysMummy, I used to see tongue tie ops quiet often (I'm a theatre nurse and worked in ear, nose and throat specialty) and I can tell you its a REALLY simple operation - takes about 10 minutes - and recovery is usually quick. It just allows the tongue more movement. I'm not sure if they follow up with speech-therapy - may depend on the severity of the tongue-tie.... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AndysMummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 1:27pm
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Thanks Shell. So nice to hear. Does it hurt afterwards? Do they have problems breastfeeding? I'm quite worried about BF afterwards. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 1:32pm
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Just letting you know Jack has only just really started talking in the last few months so I think that dr was dreaming a bit saying andy should be talking by now.
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Posted By: AndysMummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 1:37pm
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Yeah ditto on that! lol
Whats Jack saying? I can't wait until Andy starts talking so I can get to know what's going on inside that cute wee head of his! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 2:16pm
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How long do you plan to bf Laura, and how long is the waiting list (if you know)? He may be ready to wean by then and not need bf or bottle. ------------- |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 4:04pm
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from my well child book i have written:
On feb 2 gabriel went into starship and had his tongue tie fixed. all went well but mum and dad anxious. went home the same day and gabriel was fine. only a little bit upset but it didnt seem to interfere with his feeding at all. he would have been about 2.5 mths old then tho. i am surprised too that your doc didnt know anything about it. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 4:20pm
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Hey, the midwifes at the hospital told me that my son was tongue tied but the pead said he wasn't and that his tongue would just grow out (for want of a better explanation). His is kinda forked at the end. He didn't ever have any trouble breastfeeding, although we don't breastfeed anymore because I kept getting mastitis.
My nephew was born with a bad tongue tie, which did stop him from being able to breastfeed, as far as I am aware he didn't have to have any kind of surgery and his speech is normal. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=1738084 - Handmade Jewellery ------------- 
 
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 5:34pm
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My SIL's new baby (who is only a few weeks old now) had this done when he was about 3 days old. The Drs said that its a lot easier to fix it when they are little - so am so suprised that a Dr has picked it up sooner with Andy. Good Luck moving forward though! ETA - they are in Palmy too, so someone somewhere at the hospital knows what they are doing!!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Shell21 wrote:Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 7:29pm
| this is really interesting as my SIL's little boy is apparently tongue tied. no idea what they are doing about it as yet, my MIL says that it is severe, but she talks from her bum a lot so not sure how true that is. |
Posted By: AndysMummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 8:09pm
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I'm planning to BF for as long as Andy wants to. So I am a little worried about how having his tongue fixed will affect BF.
I so wish that we had of been given more information sooner. Am feeling like a BAD mother! The specialist at the hospital when Andy was born wasn't all that helpful and our EX (as of Mon) GP knew nothing! I had to explain it to him. Becuase the people we saw weren't that worried about it and said wait and see, thats what we did  .
I'm sure it will all work out fine  We got through BF probs at the beginning so I'm sure Andy and I can work through any other BF that may arise ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 8:15pm
We've had a similar thing happen with our GP but with an eye problem. He wanted to wait 2 weeks to see if it would just stop and taking his advice we did, well now he has consulted a specialist over the phone and it could be quite serious and we have lost 2 weeks. They shouldn't make a judgement call about stuff they have no idea about. If they don't know they should refer you straight to someone who does. Is so frikkin annoying!!!!!!!
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=1738084 - Handmade Jewellery -------------
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Posted By: AndysMummy
Date Posted: 13 September 2007 at 8:22pm
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Oh no! I hope Spencer is going to be ok! Yeah they should have the guts to say they don't know I direct people to someone who does! I share your ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: gemsmum
Date Posted: 14 September 2007 at 9:15am
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My husband and both my children have tongue ties. My daughter's is quite mild - she has the classic heart shape. My husband was the one that picked up on it, the midwives missed it. My son's was alot more severe but he got a nasty cough at 6 months and managed to give himself an umbilical hernia and split his tongue tie!!
The op is a small one and I wish they'd done my daughter. She's 5 now, speaks well, but has to be reminded to wipe around her mouth as she can't lick any mess like most of us would (her tongue just doesn't reach that far). I am astonished that your (ex)GP knew nothing about it. Good on you for finding a new one! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 14 September 2007 at 5:34pm
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We see a specialist on Wednesday, have paid to go privately so we could get him seen quicker, don't want to waste anymore time. Hopefully it will all be ok.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=1738084 - Handmade Jewellery -------------
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