i just attended an interesting meeting just last week with an OT (occupational
therapist for you non-acronym types). she seemed very impressed with the level
of knowledge shown to her by us LLLL of course we were doing our best to
impress. when tongue-tie was mentioned as a subject, she confirmed that the
shortness or lack of stretchibility of the upper frenulum could be as big a
problem as the lower one (i am pretty sure she referred to it as a frenulum
also). she said it could be clipped just as the lower one to reduce problems.

as a personal anecdote to add to this, my middle child crashed headlong into a
concrete step at age two, slicing his upper lip pretty badly. when they sewed
it up, they pointed out that the frenulum beneath was torn but just shrugged
and said they don't sew it up, it is no big deal. and he nursed immediately
after the accident, on the way to the hospital, and immediately after being
stitched.

so i vote for getting someone to cut this thing and see if this heroic mother
could have a few nursing sessions without pain. what a trooper!

carol b.