Latch issues

[princess_peach]

I am a CLEC so I'm usually the one helping other mommas and babies with latch, but now I'm the one who needs some help!

DD is 3 weeks old. She had a moderate lip tie which is making latching a bit difficult. Our pediatric dentist said he would clip it if I want him too, but that he recommends leaving that for the last possible option if we can't get the latch fixed.

One feeding she will do great and have a perfect latch. Then the next feeding we will seriously try for 20 minutes and still not be able to get her on well. It's very random when she will do well and when she will struggle, but she does struggle more on the left breast, not sure why. Part of the problem is that I'm having a hard time getting her to even open her mouth wide enough and when she finally does, she either turns her head or kind of scrunches down.

I am trying to get ahold of LLL and an LC in the area, but I'm waiting to hear back from both so I thought I'd see if any of you ladies have any tips I can try while I'm waiting for them.

[gdiamante]

SOunds like you're doing the right things. I've seen laid-back nursing recommended as a way to encourage good latch.

[aehanrahan]

I agree with the laid back nursing.
From what I have seen from all of the other moms here take have dealt with tongue tie, I would suggest getting it clipped sooner rather than later.

[Lynzee.Limon]

my daughter wouldn't latch very well when she was sleepy... if she woke up and nursed she did great, but when it was closer to a nap time feeding I had to nurse her in the "side by side sleeping/laying down" pose, also my daughter favored the right side so if she was super sleepy or just being picky and i gave her the left side she wouldn't latch very well then either...

[maggiemom2000]

HUGE correlation with lip tie and posterior tongue tie PTT. PTT can be very hard to diagnose and most docs, and even pediatric ENTs and dentists are unfamiliar with it. Baby can appear to be able to use the tongue properly and even stick it our far.

Here's a video on detecting PTT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5opSbXvL7yQ&sns=fb

[annaica]

It is amazing how much having baby lay on you to nurse helps with tongue and lip ties!!!

[RozyMama]

This, and laid back nursing / biological nurturing helps but you must get it checked out and corrected if necessary!

As for the side preference, my son (who is also lip tie/PTT) had tribble with the left too and I think he had a bit of a "stiff neck" or alignment issue just from normal birth trauma. You could try some massage/very gentle stretching or encouraging to turn his head during the day, and consider chiro. Using a football hold on that side so baby is in the same position as nursing on the right, or laid back nursing could help.

Quoting maggiemom2000:

HUGE correlation with lip tie and posterior tongue tie PTT. PTT can be very hard to diagnose and most docs, and even pediatric ENTs and dentists are unfamiliar with it. Baby can appear to be able to use the tongue properly and even stick it our far.

Here's a video on detecting PTT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5opSbXvL7yQ&sns=fb

[PoodleMum]

 Totally agree here!  Also, DD had a very mild looking lip tie that actually gave us more trouble than her ptt, so I would personally clip it

Quoting maggiemom2000:

HUGE correlation with lip tie and posterior tongue tie PTT. PTT can be very hard to diagnose and most docs, and even pediatric ENTs and dentists are unfamiliar with it. Baby can appear to be able to use the tongue properly and even stick it our far.

Here's a video on detecting PTT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5opSbXvL7yQ&sns=fb

 

[princess_peach]

Thanks so much for your responses. We have been doing laid back nursing. It's the only way I can get through a feed without it hurting. The ped dentist did check out her tongue but I will look into the ptt. She has been to a chiro so I don't think the preference is because of alignment issues, but maybe I'll have the chiro check her out again.

Thanks again!