Tongue Tie

Yes that was the answer to our weeks of pain and suffering. Our sweet little girl had a posterior tongue tie. Most tongue tie's are very easy to recognize and diagnose...but not ours! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics--Lexi had a Type 3 tongue tie:

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia, tight
frenulum) is a condition in which
the bottom of the tongue is tethered
to the floor of the mouth
by a membrane (frenulum) so
that the tongue’s range of motion
is unduly restricted. This
may result in various oral development,

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feeding, speech, swallowing,
and associated problems.

Type 3 tongue-tie is the attachment
to the mid-tongue and the middle of the floor of the mouth and is usually
tighter and less elastic. Types 3 and
4 are less common, and since they are more difficult
to visualize are the most likely to go untreated.

So yesterday we saw an ENT who could diagnose this and fix it for us with a  simple in office procedure. It was not pleasant...but its the first step in trying to save our breastfeeding relationship and allowing Lexi to be able to use her whole tongue to eat with.

It took about 3 seconds and once she latched on , the bleeding immediately stopped. Last night we had some success with nursing--not a ton but more than the day before so I will continue to hope that things will improve.

Shea has been home all week with me trying to allow me to spend as much time nursing Lexi and pumping to make sure my supply does not completely disappear...its been a LONG week. But I am so thankful for all the help we received from friends. I had meals brought to us, milk donated so that Lexi could stay on her "breast milk" only regimen, friends who took Austin  to help get him some fun time, and so many encouraging words. Really I started out this week just so depleted and wanting to give up on EVERYTHING...but when people rally around you, you realize that giving up not only will let yourself down...but will let those around you down. So I pressed on and I am so thankful I did!

Our prayers are for Lexi to begin nursing again--as she relearns how to use this new "tongue" of hers! And that my supply can be saved--i am working my hind end off to replenish it and also keep her fed. But she is so worth it....