Tongue-Tie division service on the NHS in Cambridgeshire

I support the need of tongue-tie division in Cambridge, as described in the partition.

Struggling to get a referral.

Both my sons had tongue tie, it took along time to get my 1st sin diagnosed by that time I had to give up trying to breast feed! I struggled for up to 6 wks before it was treated/cut, by then it was to late for me to carry on! I was told after a private appointment that my 2nd son had a postera tongue tie and couldn't do alot about that, I found this out privately, I paid for! No help from NHS! How ever that are both 3 & 9 now and doing really well! I supported/helped a couple of friends thought it aswell. Good luck.

In tears trying to feed newborn. Tongue tie removal is a low risk, quick and simple procedure. I feel Cambridge NHS is not supporting me as it should do according to NICE guidelines in trying to breast feed my baby.

I wholeheartedly support this petition. Having been told by Addenbrookes that my daughter definitely didn't have tongue-tie, we went through a very difficult period of expressing (24 hrs for at least 2 days - I was exhausted!), and feeding via a syringe. It was demoralizing for both my husband and I, and I felt like a complete failure and was in a lot of pain. Fortunately help was on hand at Ely Milks, a local volunteer-run bf support group. Within minutes of stepping through the door, we were given a diagnosis of posterior tongue-tie. We decided to go private, and immediately after the procedure my daughter latched on and fed properly for the first time. It took 6 weeks to get feeding established, with a lot of determination on my part and brilliant support from my husband & the local bf group. We are still breastfeeding at 10 months - and I'm so glad I have been able to.

My baby seemed unable to latch and after seeing numerous breastfeeding specialists and attending numerous clinics I was on a gruelling programme of pumping for approximately 1.5 hours in every 3 so that he could be exclusively breastfed via a bottle, Having to drive for over an hour (one way) to see a lactation consultant to get a referral to Bedford (again over an hour and a half's drive one way) only served to damage my supply as well as adding unnecessary stress in a very stressful period. In the end, by the time he could have the frenulotomy, my supply had been sufficiently damaged and he had sufficient bad habits that we were not able to make breastfeeding work for us. I strongly believe if his tongue tie had been diagnosed earlier and help had been more readily available I would have been able to breastfeed my baby. Given the emphasis placed on 'natural' births through the MLBU and the total emphasis placed on 'breast is best' from the NHS I was astonished that the NHS in Cambridgeshire were unable/unwilling to help me to be able to feed my child!

Although my children were born at addenbrooks I live in bedfordshire and so was able to get a referral to Bedford hospital. However if this service was available at addenbrooks it would have saved me 2-3 months of pain and would have meant I could have fully breastfed earlier giving my children a better start, less determined people probably would have just switched to formula. This is a vital service missing from addenbrooks.

My grandson's tongue-tie problems convinced me that prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial

Tongue tie division is essential for some families.

We felt like we were going 'underground' when we sought the help of a midwife from Northamptonshire to do our son's tongue tie division. The latch immediately felt looser and more comfortable - there was a noticeable difference.

Whether or not some pockets of service exist in Cambs, there was nothing available to me. I strongly believe I would not have been able to successfully breastfeed my child without paying for a frenulotomy.

My second daughter had a tongue-tie, picked up by my NCT breastfeeding counsellor but not NHS health visitors, by which time the damage was done. I had to give up feeding due to excruciating pain. This should be offered at ALL hospitals. It takes less than 5 seconds and baby knows nothing about it.

There needs to be a care pathway in place for this simple procedure. Huge impacts for mothers and babies if they can't feed but will also reduce longer term costs to the NHS and omit a percentage of speech disorders associated with tongue tie,

Can't believe that the nhs promotes breast is best but won't help with one if the most common causes of not being able to feed!! We had to pay private to get my sons snipped!

This service should be available on the NHS and easier to access locally. I paid privately for my son to have his cut at Norwich hospital and the cost & the journey added to the stress I was already under at the time.

This should be available free of charge for ALL babies in the UK!

We had to go private too, hours of excruciating feeding for me left our son still hungry. He immediately latched on better and the crying stopped as soon as the tongue tie was done and the poor little mite was no longer hungry. Was disappointed it had been missed in the first place, more disappointed that posterior tongue tie isn't dealt with at Addenbrooks.

We had to go private - otherwise our son would never have latched on and never would have breast fed. For something that took all of 30seconds, I don't see why the Rosie referred us to Bedford with a 2 week waiting time. By that point it would have been pointless for breast feeding. Bizarre and very stressful not having this simple service that midwives used to perform with a sharp finger nail!

A much needed service for Cambridgeshire. Very disappointing that new mothers should have to continue to struggle or go out of area. Get with the times!

Think long term for a change!