Tongue Tie Release Today UPDATED

My honeybun was born with a tongue tie. I am a dental professional of 9 years who happens to have had experience with lip and tongue ties in infants. I’ve seen firsthand how desperate mothers beg for their babies to be seen in order to relieve nursing issues. I never imagined I would be in their shoes. One of the first things I did when LO was born was check her tongue.. and my heart sank... she’s tied to the very tip.

Having lived with a tongue tie myself and finally having released in my mid 20s, I know firsthand the physical hinderance having a tongue tie can bring - upper body pain and strain, neckaches, headaches, the list goes on. I have been trying to save in order to take my LO to my old boss who specializes in laser release (best method for healing) but things have been tough.

Long story short, one of my dental friends now works for a well known periodontist who is even on the state board who does the laser treatment... she learned about honeybuns tongue tie yesterday evening and offered to see if he would help her. Said he asked for a picture to evaluate. Saw it and says YES HE WILL DO IT... ladies, I cried! People like this make the world a better place! Yes, it’s a procedure that can earn money, but some people still really just want to help people like he’s going to help my honeybun!!

Her appt is at 3 CST today (they close at 3, he’s specially seeing us at that time!) and I’m so happy and want to bring something for him and my friend... any suggestions? Just as a gesture... coffee, flowers, a thank you card?? Once when my office did a surgery at no charge the parents came back and brought coffee for the whole office... but it was a morning appt... I just can’t believe we are going to be pain free nursing soon! I am so grateful, thank you Lord!!!

Here is a picture of me and honeybun and a picture of her tongue tie (hereditary in my family).

UPDATE:

My LO did fantastic! We met Dr. Sam in Sherman, TX at his beautiful office.

From the beginning he was so personal with my babe! She was a bit squirmy (she is much older than I had desired but she got it done!), so they were a little unsure.

I suggested a position I have used in the past with other providers for infants and they liked my suggestion and felt comfortable moving forward.

I held my babe.

If it wasn’t for my past experience doing so with other babies, I don’t know if I could have.

I knew it was best for her.

This is what I have done in my job,

But for the first time, it’s MY baby.

They didn’t have an extra pair of laser glasses, so I held her and closed my eyes... I had complete confidence in the doctor.

Soon I smelled the burnt tissue, that cauterized smell (that weirdly is so familiar to me from my work field) and I knew it was a success.

I immediately brought babe up to hug her and nurse her.

SHE LATCHED INSTANTLY!!!

No couple of tries, no latching and then slipping right off, no slobbery sucking sounds, no clicking of her tongue, she just latched and ate.

Then the emotion hit me.

Is this what nursing should be like?

FIRST TIME PAIN FREE.

I could also tell babe was getting MUCH more milk.

After a short feed, she was all smiles!

We were able to take a picture with Dr. Sam afterwards, and it says it all. Look at how resilient my LO is! And what a wonderful doctor we were blessed to see.

I haven’t been able to get a great photo post-op (like her pre-op pic up top), mainly bc I am waiting for more healing before lifting her tongue with my mouth mirror.

I’ve shown parents post-op stretches for years. I have a specially formulated Aloe Vera gel (compounded by a dentist) that soothes as I perform the stretch.

But I can’t lie.

The stretches are tough.

The first stretch I bawled my eyes it after... I knew I was doing good for my babe, but hearing her scream made my heart wrench. (She doesn’t typically cry much, honestly ever since birth).

My husband held me as we reaffirmed to each other that it was for the best.

Since that first stretch the rest have been fine. I have a tough cookie... she’s such a trooper!

She knows it’s stretch time and kinda dips her head, but we get in there and stretch and then immediately nurse, and she calms in a minute.

I will post a post op picture when I can get a good one.

Here’s my LO on the ride home ... her expression... “what just happened?!”

She loves holding my hand. 💕