SUMMER's STORY

Summer Patterson Colina shared this amazing account of her tongue tie journey on Tongue Tie Babies Support Group. Shared here with permission.

Our breastfeeding relationship started off horribly right from day one. She had an extremely strong sucking reflex (could keep a paci in all by herself no problem at one day old!) And on top of that... a horrible latching problem. Even though it looked great to everyone else from the outside, I knew something was wrong! I was in sheer pain throughout the entire feeding, every time she would nurse. Before I left the hospital, my nipples had cracked, bled, scabbed, and blistered! The worst part... it didn't get better when I got home. People kept telling me, "It'll get better with time. You just have to push through the first couple weeks." Well, those couple weeks turned to three, then four, then five... you get it.

I was at constant battle with myself as to why I was putting myself through all this misery. But something told me I had to do this, or I would regret giving up.

What I went through:

• I went through cycles of pumping just so I could heal, and then one wrong latch and back to square one.
• We fed her with a syringe.
• I supplemented on occasion (and I cried each time).
• I had a huge abscess on my areola.
• I was treated for mastitis.
• We were almost treated for thrush.
• Walked around topless as much as I could, because anything touching my nipples was unbearable.

How I felt:

• I remember being glued to my phone for any answers I could find. I would read, read and read blogs, articles, medical advice, pretty much anything I could find. And I did this while I was nursing so I could keep my mind off the pain.
• Every time I had to supplement with formula I felt like an inadequate mother. I know that isn't the truth, but it's how I felt.
• I had a very hard time bonding with my daughter because the thing she wanted most gave me anxiety. I would sometimes cry through an entire feeding.
• I tried hard not to be depressed, but that's how I felt most of the time. I just couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The turning point:

• At her six week well visit, the physicians’ assistant asked me how breastfeeding was going. I didn't even have to say anything because she could tell by the look on my face. She then asked, "Has she been checked for lip or tongue tie?" To which I answered, "Well, I saw about four different lactation consultants in the hospital. The pediatrician checked. I scheduled two postpartum visits with a lactation consultant. Nobody has mentioned anything." She then proceeded to check and remarked that it's very possible she has a lip tie. She told me that if it wasn't better by our next visit she would give me a referral to a specialist.

Well, that's what got the ball rolling for me. I didn't wait for her referral at all! I started researching tongue and lip ties like it was going out of style. To my shock, I was experiencing about 90% of all the symptoms! Man I was angry at all the past appointments and nobody mentioning this. I ended up calling the specialist myself and scheduling an appointment.

The case:

Level 4 Upper Lip Tie & level 2 Tongue Tie. Consultation and revision the same day.

Going through the revision and healing stretches was the most difficult thing I have had to do yet as a mother, hands down, but I knew it would benefit her most in the long run. And now here we are nearly 3.5 months and breastfeeding strong! I can't be more proud of this journey we endured together. I'm proud of myself for not giving up. And I'm thankful for all the support I had, even if it was just to listen to me complain and cry. Also, this support page (TTBSG) was a Godsend!

If you read all the way to the end... thank you! I hope that this success story will give hope to those who are going through a similar situation. Believe in your mommy instinct, it is rarely wrong!