Two Babies-Two Completely Different Outcomes
Why I do what I do and why I hope that parents and providers can understand why I do what I do.
I had two similar cases this month: One that ended with a happy breastfeeding dyad, and the other that ended their breastfeeding relationship after a month of triple feeding, stress and postpartum depression. How could two families with the same breastfeeding struggles have such a different outcomes? The answer is early intervention and following the care plan.
No one wants to do a tongue tie release on their baby. We all wish that it was not the solution for so many of the little ones we see.
The first family that I saw seemed super apprehensive about doing a tongue tie release and when a baby is only a few days old sometimes it is hard to assess whether or not they are just sleepy, or have not figured out how to breastfeed efficiently, so they decided to go the body work route first. This is always a choice, however I often see it is not enough and then we are a month or two in with the same symptoms and everyone super frustrated and tired. In this case the family was triple feeding, which means breastfeeding first to find babe did not get enough, then pumping and bottle feeding after. It is exhausting and not sustainable. It was apparent that mom was struggling with postpartum depression and her nipples were not doing well with the breastfeeding and pumping around 8 or more hours a day. On week two when I again assessed the situation a release was recommended, but parents chose to continue to do body work. At one month babe and mom were still in the exact situation and decided to discontinue breastfeeding.
The other family had struggled with their first baby and had decided to bring me into the hospital on day one to assess for ties on their second baby knowing how a release had helped their first so much and wanting to avoid struggles with this new baby. Mom was already having nipple damage and babe was needing to feed more frequently then expected. Parents wanted a release as soon as possible and so on day 4 babe had a tongue tie release and now mom is exclusively breastfeeding without any issues and her nipples are healed and she is enjoying her baby and breastfeeding at 1 week.
It is hard to believe that two similar situations could end so differently. So what is the key? Early intervention and seriously consider a tongue tie release, because in my experience with helping closes to 2,000 families it is very apparent that a tongue tie is almost always the reason babes are having breastfeeding struggles. I wish it wasn’t true, but it is. Professionals, if you don’t believe it, ask to come shadow me for a week. You can see for yourself. Parents, feel free to read my reviews on google, Facebook and my posts on Instagram @babybonds_boise. I have a high success rate at healing breastfeeding dyads thrive! I can help you too!