Hi everybody,

I have a mother whose baby was born with a very very large tongue.  It
hangs down past the lower lip considerably.

The baby is now 9 months old and had been able to nurse very well since
birth.  My question is when a baby can close his mouth with his tongue
inside is extremely rarely.  Like once every few hours, maybe.

I have never seen anything close to this with all the babies I have seen
in over 30 years in LLL and as an LC for 14 years.

My feeling is it will effect his eating, speaking, and his social life.
They have run tests on him for retardation with no significant results.
It has been suggested by their Doctor they could shorten his tongue with
surgery and the parents opted to not have it done, thinking it may get
better.  Like maybe he will learn to keep it in his mouth.

However, the tongue has grown significantly since birth.  So as the baby
grows, so also the tongue.  My thinking is the sooner the better for
surgery.  ( in regards to size of incision, speach, eating, and the sight
of it is very unsocial and uncomfortable for people.

I suggested she start interviewing specialist and become informed and
make a plan for what they will do.  Not to rush in with a decision but to
learn as much as they can about it.

Does anyone out their know of an awesome contact for the unusual
circumstance like this.  Who, where, and when would you tackle a very
sensitive and delicate problem like this?

The parents are highly educated, have some means, extremely loving and
strong.  This maybe the not the best place for help but this is where I
relate.  Please offer something privately or publically.

Judie Zersen LLLL IBCLC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html