Sunday, September 8, 2013
First day of school!!
William started kindergarten at our local public school today!!!
Adalynn started another year at the PDO program that she has always attended!
And Caleb started his first day ever not at home with a sitter or mommy!!
Adalynn started another year at the PDO program that she has always attended!
And Caleb started his first day ever not at home with a sitter or mommy!!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Update on tongue tie
As you may remember, we had a Caleb's tongue clipped at the pediatrician's office a few weeks ago. Well after a few days I realized that it still needed to be cut more which we knew might happen but were hopeing not to have to go that route. Well it took four weeks to get into an ENT here in Lubbock but that visit finally came a little over a week ago. It took so long to get in, that I was really excited when we finally got to see the doctor. The ENT on the other hand was not so excited to see us. He was not intersted in our problems and just said "it not worth the risk" to get it done. Even when I pushed him he just kept saying he didn't believe in clipping tongues (a belief that is outdated). I had research in my bag indicating the clear benefit in clipping the tounge to help infants nurse better and it all clearly says there is virtually no risk and the benefits are substantial for maternal pain. This doctor was just not having it. He had made up his mind that he was not going to the procedure even before he walked in the exam room.
That sent me into more research again. I tried to relax and just try and wait it out but something kept making me feel that I need to pursue this more. We looked in to dentists here in town but none had experience with babies and the only Dr. in town that would do the procedure was a plastic surgeon that everyone didn't recommend due to poor surgery skills.
Anyways after some consideration we decided to seek a consult by a pediatric ENT and would have to travel to Dallas to find one. I knew of several ENT's there, but I wanted one that specialized in oral surgery rather than ear surgery. I called our ENT of choice and got in right away. (no 6 week delay). When we got there the Dr. was very responsive and listened to what I had to say. He said that based on symptoms Caleb appeared to be tongue tied. He went to look at Caleb's tongue and said instantly, that Caleb was obviously tongue tied and could see it without any further evaluation. He then offered to clip the tongue in the office!!!
The ENT in Lubbock was not willing to cut Caleb's tongue in the office and said that he needed anastheisia which is why he didn't want to do. This pediatric ENT though does frenulectomy (tongue clipping) every day so it was no problem for him to do it right there. The nurse came in and knew exactly where I should hold him and position him. The doctor grabbed a simple spatual to lift the tongue and within seconds he had cut the small peice of tissue. He asked me to nurse and that he would come back in a few minutes.
Just as simple as that, we were no longer a tongue tied baby. While a tongue tie is not life or death it does cause lots of problems (brestfeeding, eating chunky foods, eating lolly pops and ice cream cones, speech, and french kissing) and now we don't have to worry. There is still a chance that as the cut heals it can close up and tighten again, but the cut this time was all the way to the base so we shouldn't need to cut it again.
Below are two picture. One of before and one after. You can see the white band in the first and how it is cut in the second.
That sent me into more research again. I tried to relax and just try and wait it out but something kept making me feel that I need to pursue this more. We looked in to dentists here in town but none had experience with babies and the only Dr. in town that would do the procedure was a plastic surgeon that everyone didn't recommend due to poor surgery skills.
Anyways after some consideration we decided to seek a consult by a pediatric ENT and would have to travel to Dallas to find one. I knew of several ENT's there, but I wanted one that specialized in oral surgery rather than ear surgery. I called our ENT of choice and got in right away. (no 6 week delay). When we got there the Dr. was very responsive and listened to what I had to say. He said that based on symptoms Caleb appeared to be tongue tied. He went to look at Caleb's tongue and said instantly, that Caleb was obviously tongue tied and could see it without any further evaluation. He then offered to clip the tongue in the office!!!
The ENT in Lubbock was not willing to cut Caleb's tongue in the office and said that he needed anastheisia which is why he didn't want to do. This pediatric ENT though does frenulectomy (tongue clipping) every day so it was no problem for him to do it right there. The nurse came in and knew exactly where I should hold him and position him. The doctor grabbed a simple spatual to lift the tongue and within seconds he had cut the small peice of tissue. He asked me to nurse and that he would come back in a few minutes.
Just as simple as that, we were no longer a tongue tied baby. While a tongue tie is not life or death it does cause lots of problems (brestfeeding, eating chunky foods, eating lolly pops and ice cream cones, speech, and french kissing) and now we don't have to worry. There is still a chance that as the cut heals it can close up and tighten again, but the cut this time was all the way to the base so we shouldn't need to cut it again.
Below are two picture. One of before and one after. You can see the white band in the first and how it is cut in the second.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
ankyloglossia
After a stressful 7 weeks we have taken yet another step towards solving our problems.
Ever since birth Caleb has had struggles nursing. He couldn't latch well so I am was a ton of severe pain all the time. Plus he often choked and gagged, lost milk all down his cheek, and made clicking and gulping sounds through out the feed. I also had a milk bleb which was making things worse too. Caleb was growing like a weed though so everyone, including several lactation consultants and two pediatricians and my OB just kept saying he was fine and that eventually the pain would subside so that was my mantra. Week after week I just kept telling myself that I could do this, and that as long as Caleb was growing this was just what mommies do.
With all the air Caleb was taking in dueapoor feeding he was experiencing lots of gas that made him cry all day long and eventually the doctors said he had colic (unconsolable crying for more than several hours a day). Ryan and I literally were taking 20 minutes shifts holding our screaming child. When gas drops didn't work we tried chiropractic care which helped slights but mainly it helped clear the gas that was there but when it accumulated again, the pain would come back too. Eventually we tried acid reflux drugs and that actually made a huge difference! We no longer cried all day and actually started getting some form of routine schedule going.
As for the milk bleb I actually developed over ten! Just google milk bleb if you are curious. I'll spare you any details at this time.
Eventually we got to the point that even though Caleb was exclusively nursing and I still had TONS of milk and could have probably nursed triplets so I spent lots of time working to control my output and not drown him. It took lots of research and lots of trial and error but eventually we got it controlled.
That bring us to this week. Each time I nursed Caleb this week I started realizing that although he was happy between feedings he still seemed just as miserable as me during feeds. He still got frustrated, choked and coughed, cried, screamed, and leaked milk. I was still in severe pain too! I had noticed earlier that Caleb's tongue looked tied but non of the professionals that were helping us had ever noticed so I just thought I was a crazy speech therapist that was over diagnosing her child. Then one day Ryan actually commented on it too so i started doing lots of research.
I determined that Caleb had a type three tongue tie. I'll try and post pictures of before and after soon. Essentially there is a small piece of "skin" that is attached to the middle of his tongue to the floor of his mouth causing his tongue to have limited movement. I talked to several other speech paths and did lots of medical studies and and most recommended clipping the tongue if continued breast feeding was desired.
With that we made an appointment for Caleb 2 month well check to discuss this plan. While we were there today, the pediatrician and I decided to try and do a minimal cut in the office with no sedation but that if that was not helpful enough then we would be referred to an ENT for surgery. The procedures was simple and easy and Caleb fell asleep right afterward, but we won't know the effects for awhile. I will try and keep you updated though.
In the meantime, please keep Caleb and I in your prayers. We pray for quick healing of the cut and decreased pain and less frustration for mom and baby. Thanks.
With that we made an appointment for Caleb 2 month well check to discuss this plan. While we were there today, the pediatrician and I decided to try and do a minimal cut in the office with no sedation but that if that was not helpful enough then we would be referred to an ENT for surgery. The procedures was simple and easy and Caleb fell asleep right afterward, but we won't know the effects for awhile. I will try and keep you updated though.
In the meantime, please keep Caleb and I in your prayers. We pray for quick healing of the cut and decreased pain and less frustration for mom and baby. Thanks.
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