u/Dalecantila

I wasn’t sure whether to write this, but I’m leaving it here in case it helps someone in a similar situation.

My baby was born 10 weeks ago. She seemed to latch fine at the hospital, but once we got home she started refusing the breast. I’m quite heavy-chested, so I initially wondered if the volume or nipple shape was the issue. Her doctors and nurses encouraged us to keep trying and suggested various positions and techniques — nothing worked, and at some point it felt counterproductive to keep pushing when she was clearly struggling.

She was losing a little weight and was very upset. It was hard to watch. We introduced formula and I invested in a Spectra pump to protect my supply and give her whatever milk I could produce via bottle. Both decisions brought me real peace of mind, though I found myself having to justify them at every new appointment.

I pumped for 9 weeks. I was an undersupplier (around 500ml a day) and being tied to the pump made it harder to simply be present with her. That part was difficult.

Throughout this time I repeatedly asked for her to be checked for tongue tie: at birth, at paediatric appointments, with the nurse, and with the physiotherapist treating her neck tension. Everyone said there was nothing significant to find.

Eventually we sought a second paediatric opinion. That doctor spotted it immediately and referred us to a surgeon. One week and a five-minute procedure later, she has been breastfeeding exclusively ever since. It turns out she draws more milk than the pump ever could, so my undersupply is now sufficient and I can spend more time with her.

Signs we noticed in hindsight:

•	Clicking sounds while feeding

•	Milk dripping from the corners of her mouth

•	Visible frustration when trying to latch

•	Her tongue sitting slightly skewed to one side

•	Strong aversion to certain bottle teats

If any of this sounds familiar, it might be worth asking specifically for a referral to a surgeon or specialist rather than a general assessment. We were told repeatedly there was nothing there, until someone finally looked more carefully.