Written by Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC
Is your baby having a difficult time latching? Is breastfeeding incredibly painful? Do you have a cracked nipple that just won’t heal? Then most likely you have been recommended to try a nipple shield. While the nipple shield can often be a terrific temporary tool to help with these situations, it is important to know how to use them correctly, as well as have an exit strategy for how to discontinue usage as soon as possible.
Written by Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC
Last week on The Boob Group, I had the esteemed pleasure of interviewing one of the most prominent experts on tongue ties and lip ties, Catherine Watson Genna. Catherine has written multiple articles and books about the mechanics of the tongue while breastfeeding, as well as the breastfeeding challenges that can occur when a baby has a tongue or lip tie. One of her earliest articles was written for the American Academy of Pediatrics, helping to bring awareness to this subject for the practitioners who babies see the most.
Colic is a word that is often used for a baby who cries for any length of time, but did you know that it’s normal for babies to have a fussy period every day, often called the witching hour? While it’s distressing for any parent to hear her baby cry, sometimes understanding that the behavior is a normal part of infant development can be helpful. However, there are times when the behavior may be caused by something else, and even though the cause isn’t always immediately understood, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the symptoms of colic.
To help parents understand a bit more about how tongue and lip ties can affect breastfeeding, over the next few weeks we will be featuring stories from moms whose babies experienced these challenges. We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the brave mamas who submitted their stories for our blog! We know you went through a ton of challenges and we are so appreciative that you were willing to share your stories! If you have a story you would like to share on our blog, please send it to robinkaplan@sdbfc.com.
For more information about tongue and lip ties and how they can affect breastfeeding, please see our article: Does Your Baby Have a Tongue or Lip Tie?
To help parents understand a bit more about how tongue and lip ties can affect breastfeeding, over the next few weeks we will be featuring stories from moms whose babies experienced these challenges. We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the brave mamas who submitted their stories for our blog! We know you went through a ton of challenges and we are so appreciative that you were willing to share your stories! If you have a story you would like to share on our blog, please send it to robinkaplan@sdbfc.com.
For more information about tongue and lip ties and how they can affect breastfeeding, please see our article:Does Your Baby Have a Tongue or Lip Tie?
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Aubrielle was born on August 3rd, 2013 at 36 weeks due to my preeclampsia. She was 5lbs 13 ounces of tiny beautiful joy. I knew from the moment I found out I was pregnant that I wanted to breastfeed (my goal being for a year). I had no idea then, that it would be such a wonderful, beautiful, bonding, humongous part of my life. We were in the hospital for 5 days because of Aubrielle being considered a "late premie" and all of the meds I had to come off of to make sure I didn't have a seizure. Aubrielle was immediately diagnosed with a severe tongue tie by the pediatrician and two lactation specialists. We made an appointment to have her tongue tie snipped at 4 days old with ENT. In the mean time, she was latching, and eating as best as her little mouth could while we supplemented with pumped milk and feeding her through a tube and syringe.
To help parents understand a bit more about how tongue and lip ties can affect breastfeeding, over the next few weeks we will be featuring stories from moms whose babies experienced these challenges. We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the brave mamas who submitted their stories for our blog! We know you went through a ton of challenges and we are so appreciative that you were willing to share your stories! If you have a story you would like to share on our blog, please send it to robinkaplan@sdbfc.com.
For more information about tongue and lip ties and how they can affect breastfeeding, please see our article:Does Your Baby Have a Tongue or Lip Tie?
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Written by Cinda Brown
Lily and I had a rough start with our breastfeeding relationship from the very beginning. She latched soon after she was born and in that instant I felt sharp pain and noticed there was blood. She had caused damage with her first latch. We stayed at the hospital for about 24 hours, and in that time she had pretty severely damaged both of my nipples. I consulted with friends and professionals who had breastfed before, but didn’t get the kind of guidance I probably should have. No one’s fault, but no one had seen or experienced what I was going through so they gave me what they thought was very well meaning advice. Unfortunately I really needed to see an IBCLC, but I didn’t know that such a person existed.
Tongue-ties and tight frenula are definitely a hot topic among breastfeeding moms and lactation consultants. While I had never heard of these 6 and 7 years ago, when my kids were born, they are now the FIRST thing I check for during a lactation consultation when a mother is describing painful breastfeeding and pinched, damaged nipples. And, while a tight frenulum is not always going to cause breastfeeding challenges, there are many breastfeeding mothers who are in excruciating pain even when their babies seem to have the ‘perfect’ latch.
So what are the signs of a tight frenulum, for both mom and baby?
When should a baby’s parents consider clipping their baby’s tight frenulum?
How can this surgery (frenotomy) improve breastfeeding?
A few weeks ago I had the esteemed pleasure of interviewing one of the top ENTs in San Diego about the effect of tight frenula on breastfeeding. Dr. James Ochi, of Children’s ENT of San Diego answered all of these questions and more. Plus, the three breastfeeding moms in the studio were able to share their experiences as mothers with tongue-tied babies.
Click here to listen to our episode Tight Frenula and Breastfeeding
Here are also a few of my favorite articles about breastfeeding and tight frenula:
AAP article: CONGENTIAL TONGUE-TIE AND ITS IMPACT ON BREASTFEEDING
La Leche League International: Tongue-Tie and Breastfeeding
Low Milk Supply: Tongue Tie and Suck Dysfunction
