Tied Up

Miss Mia is coming up on 6 weeks old.  As she's aged I thought we had found our groove in nursing.  However, I have noticed the last few days, as my oversupply calmed down, that she was becoming increasingly frustrated during our nursing sessions and instead of nursing becoming easier and more natural it was getting harder and trickier.

Right after she was born, at a week old, I expressed concern to a doctor that she was lip tied and was told I was incorrect.  (This link explains lip tie and how it affects breastfeeding  It also shows a "normal" lip vs. a tied lip.)  Even after I was told she wasn’t tied by the doctor, I expressed further concern that she was completely unable to flange her upper lip like you want to see a nursing or bottle baby do (lip should be turned up while eating, not folded in).  I was told to work harder.  I pressed on through sore and bleeding nipples and worked hard with her at finding a better latch, blaming myself for not trying harder in the first place instead of wanting to "fix" baby.  The last few days, however, I've revisited the possibility of a lip tie...with my oversupply diminishing it means that Mia needs to get down to business while nursing - but instead of doing so she is pulling off often, clicking while she nurses (indicating poor suction/latch - which explains why she is always gassy...she's taking air when she nurses), and getting angry.  Not only is my oversupply gone, but I'm struggling with overall supply as well (pumping after she nurses is helping, as are herbal supplements, lactation cookies, and tea!). 

After a particularly frustrating nursing session last night I sent these pictures to a kind resident doctor via Facebook and asked her opinion.  She agrees, as do a couple of others who have seen them, that Ameliya indeed does have a lip tie.  

Based on the pictures, the doctor I contacted has given me every hope that this can be fixed simply and in the office.  (We wouldn't turn down prayers that things go exactly that easily.)  We go next Tuesday morning and I can't wait.  Until then we nurse, nurse, nurse - keep trying so she doesn't get frustrated and she gets full, and I pump so that I don't get mastitis and my supply stays as steady as possible.

I've heard tons of people say "everyone has that skin that comes down like that."  Yep, lots of people do...that doesn't mean it's still not considered a tie...some can nurse successfully with it and never even know the difference, however we are not one of those cases.  

Last night I fought a whirlwind of emotions - mostly anger at myself for not getting a second opinion earlier and following my "mom gut."  Today, I'm setting aside anger, choosing advocacy, and sharing our experience so that other moms might feel empowered.  If you want to nurse your baby, it's only fair that you have as many tools in your toolbox as humanly possibly.  I wish I'd had these tools 5 and 3 years ago...

 ...had I known maybe I could have nursed these two successfully for longer than I did.  Lip & tongue ties are often hereditary. 

I'm considering looking into getting the big kids' fixed before their permanent teeth grow in with a gap.  Any thoughts or suggestions?