breastfeeding a tongue tied baby

by Nicole P.
(tucson,az)

I breastfeed my tongue tied baby with little to no issues for 4 weeks. The last couple of days he has not been feeding well he will latch on correctly and then slowly let go where it hurts. I started to get sore and decided to pump to make sure he got enough to eat. not sure how to get us back to only breastfeeding if possible?

Answer from the lactation consultant
Tongue ties and breastfeeding can be an extreme challenge. It is odd that he could breastfeed then suddenly could not. That is not a normal scenario. Sounds more like nipple confusion from a bottle to me.
Latch is simply one of those issues I cannot even begin to solve on the computer. This requires an in person evaluation by a breastfeeding expert: a lactation consultant. Please contact your local hospital or la leche league to find a local lactation consultant who can help you.
Getting back on the breast may require any of the following: a supplemental feeder, a nipple shield, surgical correction of the tight frenulum or something else. Without being able to see the child’s anatomy, your anatomy and observe the child at the breast, I cannot say what intervention will work.
But what I can say is that if he was once feeding at the breast, I cannot imagine why you could not return to breastfeeding with some help from a lactation consultant.
Hang in there mom!
Liz Pevytoe, RN, IBCLC