monkeyfeet

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My LO has just turned 1 and is now thriving :) but what a shoddy start for so many little ones... petition signed

I can't believe that so many new mums go through the same heartache with BF-ing. Having been born with tongue tie myself, I was vaguely aware that my son could have had it, and indeed it was diagnosed on newborn check in Kings. HOWEVER I was given no advice or help in hospital, they let me leave with him being partially cup fed and part BF-ing, and the problems I had in the next couple of days were just soul destroying thinking back. LO was 3 weeks early, but as he was dead on 37 weeks, not considered premature and not given much care at all - I was told by the midwife who did our home visit to "put him in the window" to treat his jaundice! Poor thing was only 5lbs 13oz and barely fed or woke up in first few days, which midwife said was normal. Went to Jessop BF cafe, midwife wasn't at the session, went to Rosendale and got told the latch was fine so it was not a problem. I just persevered for first 5 days, knowing he wasn't getting anything and trying to top him up with formula and LO ended getting admitted back to Kings Special Care Unit at 5days old, having lost too much weight. They were so much more caring in NICU and actually gave the time to explain BFing, and help with everything, although by the time he came out, I barely had a supply with the stress of it all. I feel so let down by Kings and the local midwives who preach about BFing, yet give no help before LO arrives, and none in hospital. I ended up putting LO on formula as my supply was really low, and I was told he couldn't have TT cut until he was at least 2 weeks old, which would have been further stress. I just wanted to get him to get some food, so went to bottle, but the tongue tie also made him not feed properly with a bottle either so looked into problems again and eventually got referred to Clare Kedves at Kings, who was a godsend. She is a feeding specialist, and such a great support. She did my referral and encouraged me to go back to BFing when LO was 6 weeks old as you can't get the tongue cut if bottle feeding. She diagnosed him with a severe TT and high palate and explained it was no wonder he couldn't feed, cried loads and lost so much weight, as couldn't properly latch on. It was SUCH hard work and heartache, but eventually got him cut at 7 weeks old and back to BFing, which was a relief and so much easier. I cannot sympathise with other mums enough, it still makes me sad thinking those first few weeks should be easy and stress-free, but weren't, but it also makes me furious that Kings policy is so rigid and not actually encouraging or supporting BF-ing. They shouldn't wait so long to cut TT and it should be a newborn check- I was at least aware of what it was. A friend of mine had the same problem in Wimbledon, and St Georges cut her LO's TT on day 3, saving her the 7 weeks of stress I had.