Mary posts about this family:
"Mom and baby seen at 3 weeks, problems are "nursing all day" and sore nipples. Baby wants to nurse constantly
for 8-11 hours per day. He is also very fussy at breast, breaking off and on, gulping and becoming uncomfortable
with letdowns.He does OK at night, though, sleeping for a few hours after each nursing. Reclining position did not help.
Can only seem to handle flow at night when half asleep. Lying down nursing during day does not help- still fussy. On
exam baby has a tongue tie- moderate. A clipping is done. After clipping he can move his tongue better
but still is uncomfortable for long periods while nursing most days- really seems to
be unable to handle flow. I don't see any obvious breathing difficulties that might
make him sensitive to normal flow. Mom's supply and letdown don't seem excessive-
though maybe they are as he's gained almost 2 lbs since birth (now we are almost
at 1 mo of age). But if it's OMER and/or oversupply, why doesn't positioning help?
Left nipple is quite sore- had a plugged duct with milk blisters last week. She has
short nipples, breasts are soft. Baby gets a good latch, then moves back so nipple
is not far enough in. Seems to be clenching a little too, and his jaw excursions seem
a little excessive. When he comes off nipple is lipstick shaped and red and she has pain
while end of nipple turns white. Using warmth for this. Right nipple is not sore- but
right breast has implant (never developed) and low supply and flow so she doesn't nurse
on it as often. She is doing tongue exercises from K. Genna's book- massage on end in
circular motion, let baby suck on finger, press down and out.
OK- so now it's been 4 days since clipping and Mom is very frustrated. The plugged ducts
seem resolved- pain is now from nipple not being far back enough in mouth and vasospasm,
I think. She has to take vicodin at times for the nipple pain. She is going to check in
with supportive Ped on Monday, and talk to the ENT who did the clipping. But then I
think she's going to quit unless something changes drastically.
I'm stumped. Before I saw them I guessed overactive letdown. Then thought the clipping would help. Now I wonder if baby
?should be re-clipped or what??
Mary,
Very few docs clip babies correctly. They often clip tissue that is very obvious, freeing the anterior portion of the tongue
but doing nothing about the posterior anchoring. For some babies, all this does it make it easier for the baby to spit the
nipple out of the mouth. When there is a posterior anchor, you see a lot more difficulty with swallowing and managing
even a moderate flow.
So, I would bet the baby does need to be reclipped, BUT as I have said many times, I never send a baby for clipping
without sending the baby for CST/chiropractic as well. I do not know how a baby is supposed to release patterns
integrated into the muscles and nervous system just b/c he has been clipped. Further, no matter how much we want to
down-play it, clipping is traumatic and I think every baby deserves to have his trauma released. He will remember, it,
no matter how much we might like to convince ourselves he will not.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
Intuitive Parenting Network LLC
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