Laura writes:

She  reports that baby is latching well only 20% of the time and often 
slips after  achieving a good latch.  She is reluctant to try CST because it is 
just  one more thing that may not work.  I think she wants to hear from 
someone  who experienced that CST helped them with attaining a better latch post 
 frenotomy.  If there aren't any mom's here who have this experience, she  
may be helped by communicating with an LC who has helped many moms in her  
situation who had success.  I think she just needs some encouragment that  
things will get better.




~~~ Hi Laura,
 
I can speak as a LLLLeader, an IBCLC, and an aunt of two tongue-tie little  
ones. My professional experience is that it can take 3-4 weeks after 
release,  for baby to go through the phases needed to become more skilled at  
breastfeeding. First, baby gets more motion ( can latch and nurse well sometimes 
 but not others, or latches a fatigues, slips as you said ) then  baby gets 
more strength, and can latch more or stay longer and transfer more  milk 
though perhaps not a full feeding or not at every feeding, then baby gains  
the stamina to do this at more and more nursings, til hopefully at all of 
them.  I've seen this pattern over and over especially with babies whose tongue  
restrictions have been more posterior. I also think CST has been very 
helpful  for some of these babies, though not every single one. I know it is 
usually out  of pocket, but it is so often helpful, it's usually worth trying at 
least once  or twice. The local practitioner here is so skilled and caring, 
no one has ever  said it was a waste of money, even if it didn't get them 
exactly where they  wanted to go. My sister's children both had releases 
done.  ( I was not her  LC, but had the lovely Barbaras ( L and LZ) to help her. 
I think my nephew's was  super tight, a Type 4, submucosal element to it. I 
attended the release.  It was a different doctor, a very bloody procedure ( 
the most I'd ever  seen, which makes me wonder....,) he never had bodywork 
and my sister never was  able to stand full nursing due to pain. She nursed 
about 3 times a day, and gave  her own milk at all other feedings. She 
pumped for 12 months though he weaned  around 9. My niece, second baby, couldn't 
latch well or move milk, and fatigued  or got frustrated quickly. I did the 
eval for her this time and I would  think this was a Type 3, a little more 
movement perhaps but nowhere near enough  for function. I was not there for 
the release, as she made the wise decision to  go to Albany, NY to see Dr. 
Kotlow. ( I had heard excellent things, and I  figured there would be 
parking!) She never did take the baby for bodywork, but  with the help of Barbara LZ 
on rethinking positioning ( a key element I found,  she was trying to use 
the same position that didn't work before and needed to  try something a 
little more helpful), and not giving up, in about 3-4 weeks she  had a fully 
breastfeeding baby. I do think the CST might have accelerated  progress, but 
I'm glad she made it in the end even without it. I would guess  I've worked 
with many families who have been through this journey. Not all  babies do 
better, but most, and I do mean most, do. My nephew was later  diagnosed with 
sensory and motor and speech issues. Again I wish he had   bodywork, but 
that's that. 
 
Don't know if that helps, but there it is.

Peace,
Judy  

Judy LeVan  Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL
Brooklyn, NY,  USA
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