Tongue Tie

Today we went up to the DuPont Children's Hospital in Wilmington to have Sherwood looked at by an ENT. We had already visited one here in Dover, but he was not very nice or helpful. All he really did was make Sherwood scream.

Dr. Barth was excellent. We talked to him briefly about how much Sherwood has struggled with eating and how he had troubles with breastfeeding. He took a look at his tongue and saw that it was indeed tied. He suggested that we go ahead and cut it so that Sherwood would be less miserable. We had already decided that if that was what he suggested we would go ahead and have it done.

The procedure is pretty simple. They strapped him down, clipped his tongue and then made a cut where the tie was (they did give him some lidicane to numb it). He bled a little but after eating it was gone. Instead of taking an hour to an hour and a half to eat his five ounces he had downed four of them in 20 minutes! And that was with tears!

I couldn't be in the room though. Aaron was in there and with him but I just couldn't see them attack my baby. It broke my heart when I heard him screaming in the other room. I never thought I would be so weak when it came to my baby's cries. Its not like when someone else's baby cries. When its my baby, all I want to do is stop whatever is bothering him in anyway possible. Not that I don't want to comfort other people's kids. I do. But its so different with my own child. With mine it hurts my heart in a way that is inexplicable.

Anyway, he's been able to eat much more easily. He was able to keep his pacifier in (although I am not sure if he is going to end up liking them or not). He is also able to stick his tongue out much better. That seemed to fascinate him. I'm hoping this makes a great improvement. Or at least makes midnight feedings take less time so I can get more sleep...