My 9 month old has a short lingual frenulum.  I noticed it immediately after
his birth and wanted to have it clipped.  I couldn't find anyone to clip it.
My pediatrician was dead against it.  I got a consult to an ENT but had to
wait a few months for the appointment.  On the day of the appointment, my
childcare for my other children fell through, so I canceled the appointment
and rescheduled.  Breastfeeding went like a charm, though.  I had breastfed
my premature triplets for over a year, so this seemed really easy.  I had no
nipple soreness or pain, if I had, I would have insisted on an early clip
even if it meant dragging all 4 children with the doctor with me.  I finally
did see the ENT, but after talking with him and the speech pathologist, we
have decided to let it go.  At 9 months the tongue has stretched quite a
bit, and Seth is able to stick out his tongue fairly well.  His birthweight
was 9#5oz and he is well over 20 lbs now (not sure exact weight).  I'm
hoping that his speech will be OK.  The speech pathologist I talked too said
that most children will overcome the frenulum and speak normally.

I think our story is the exception rather than the rule.  It can be
extremely difficult for women to find someone who is willing to clip the
frenulum, especially when the word out to pediatricians (even the very pro
breastfeeding ones) is not to clip.  I think any research proving the
benefits of clipping would be beneficial to our families.

Anne Nans, RN, IBCLC
Fredericksburg, VA
Mom to Caleb, Amy and Riley 12/17/98 and Seth 12/10/00

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