BF & baby whose tongue sticks to roof of his mouth

[hotpot]

Although I "had" to stop breastfeeding I was wondering if there was anything that I could have done differently - yep still beating myself up about it.
My son was 1 week early and I was determined to BF, he was severely jaundiced - so sleepy but his tongue seemed to want to stick to the roof of his mouth. I had BF counsellor help me try to latch him on for 25 minutes one time, the positions really helped but the tongue only came down once he was screaming with frustration. Sadly he wasn't the kind of baby who would latch on when his mouth was wide open mid-scream.
He lost too much weight (according to both midwife and HV - I had both at the same time due to the jaundice) and was told that to prevent him being hospitalised for his jaundice I needed to get milk down him whether it be BM or formula so reluctantly gave him bottle - still expressed BM though. Used the bottle teat to push his tongue from roof of his mouth so he could feed. It took him 8 weeks to master getting his tongue down and feed from a bottle.
What could I have done/could I do in the future if this happened again. This would really help me get past this.

[donnacb]

Hi Hotpot

Dont beat yourself up. As long as hes getting milk and growing thats the main thing.

My ds was 7 weeks early and was a monkey with feeding he had a feeding tube to start with and we had to put half his food down the tube first before he would even entertain latching on. We did manage it in the end but I had lots of support and added help withthe tube. he was also severley Jaundiced and required 4 weeks of treatment.

My ds tongue used to stuck to the roof of his mouth its caused by wind ie all the screaming they do before. Theres not alot you can do they scream if your not feeding them they scream if your winding the. Again I could cheat and take it out of his tube first to help.

The HV gave you the best advice Jaundice if left untreated can be very dangerous.

You cant do anything different some babies do some babies dont. You now have a healthy lovely baby. Whose growing. Breast feeding can also prolong jaundice so be proud of what your doing. He'll love you whatever your his mum.

Good luck donna

[hotpot]

Thanks Donna, I know he is thriving now but the tongue on roof of mouth was when he was asleep and then when he woke up and before he was crying. He would only drop his tongue down when he cried.

He had terrible problems latching on not helped by me leaking milk all over his poor face like waving a plate of food under his nose, plus I had a 3year old who suddenly wondered what happened to the mummy who was at his beck and call!

Just didn't know how I was meant to have dealt with it. I know that the BF was prolonging the jaundice (I had a midwife still calling on us until he was 24 days old!) It is just now he is on a pharmacy only formula which we get on prescription

I know they say breast size doesn't matter but if I had had small pert ones where i didn't need to make "a breast sandwhich" then I would have had a hand free to use a finger to pull his tongue down. Sadly my mams were 38G and he needed me to help him latch.

[donnacb]

You poor thing. It looks like you tried your hardest and it definatley sounds like you tried all the right things. Wish I could wave a wand and make you feel better. I think you did really well perservering as long as you did. I know its hard but congratulate yourself for coping so well and definatley with a 3 year old. Im 20 weeks pregnant and wondering how people cope.

Big hugs is all I can give.

Donna

[snugglebumnappies]

Hi hotpot, sounds like you tried your hardest, not sure if your b/f supporter talked about massaging the tongue downards with a clean finger, it takes a while but can really help improve the position of the tongue, esp for babies who suck their tongues. If you need both hands to get a good latch when feeding (and a lot of us do) then things like extra pillows and support under the breast (a rolled up flannel placed the the crease just under the breast cajust help position the nipple a little higher to stop you feeling like you haven't enough hands!). I would try and get hold of a la leche leauge councillor and see if you can talk through some of the problems you encountered with her, you may need to wait a while though as often it can be soul destroying to rake over things when it's so fresh. Glad to hear he is thriving now.