Tongue-Tie division service on the NHS in Cambridgeshire

This is a much needed service! My son's tongue tie made breast feeding best impossible and we had to go private and pay £200 for it

The difference the procedure made to my youngest was incredible.he was 100% tongue tied which was also extremely thick. He had a heart shaped tongue before it was done. He beastfed better straight away, my breast pain went and as a result too. Thank goodness I persisted in getting it done when he was under 4 months old. I was told his speach was likely to have been affected too so would have needed a 'bigger' procedure when he was older. This

Make tongue tie division available within the first week or two weeks following birth. It is so important for the health of the baby as well as the parents.

Important to remove obstacles to breastfeeding as early as possible. So diagnosis and treatment needs to be readily available.

Please sign

Both of our children had tongue-tie, and with our first, we had to fight to get it and it made a massive difference immediately. Happy to support the cause to get this service established in Cambridgeshire.

Myl little boy had this and we ended up in a&e 3 days after birth because he lost more than 10% of his birth weight due to poor feeding. The doctor there said he doesn't have it. 4 weeks later, i finally called our fantastic breadtfeeding counsellor from the Nct who spotted it. This was Friday and i had an appointment with a lactation consultant on monday who helped us and did the division. Affected my breastfeeding and if spotted in hospital earlier it would have saved us a lot of trouble.

I had a good experience in Cambridge as my baby's tongue tie was picked up in hospital before I was discharged as as I was struggling to feed. However it took 2 weeks to get the appointment, which took only 5 minutes! Baby now fine and feeding much easier and less uncomfortable. It would be great if this could be spotted and performed whilst still in the care of midwifes who can check for complications and support breastfeeding establishment.

Both my boys had tongue tie...The first had it divided privately at quite a financial cost to us but totally worth the money when he was then able to breastfeeding feed without those frustrations and difficulties. My youngest wasn't picked up until he was 8 months as he breastfed ok. ..but took too much air in and vomited violently....again we enlisted private help but it was too little too late for him....fortunately at 3 he has stretched the tie and suffers less....but intervention before 6 months would have saved all the trouble for him. Cambridge needs some specialist NEW help in this area.....countless friends have asked my opinion and help with their tongue tied children.

We had similar issues in Bedfordshire and ended up having to travel to Nottingham to get it sorted out. We spoke to Mervyn Griffiths Office in Southampton, who were excellent in providing advice and guidance. We made an appointment in Nottingham and were surprised at how simple, and easy the procedure is! it took literally 2 minutes from start to finish and then we sat around for about 15 minutes to make sure that there wasn't any bleeding. After the tie was separated, feeding was so much better. We wrote to Bedford Hospital explaining what happened,our frustration, what we had found out and how easy it was to do and as a result one of their consultant went and met with Mr Griffiths and the procedure is now performed here. Come on Cambridgeshire, this is such a simple procedure and solution!!!

I've had two babies with tongue-ties. Getting them cut made breast feeding possible and enjoyable. All babies should be checked at birth for tongue tie and offered a division ideally before they leave hospital and certainly within two weeks of birth. Six weeks or more is too long to wait when you are in agony and your baby isn't gaining enough weight!

My first child was born in Southampton and the tongue-tie was dealt with by a trained midwife/nurse who specialises in the education of breastfeeding. My son was only a day old and the procedure was quick, effortless and caused minimum discomfort. My second child was born in Cambridge and the treatment for her tongue-tie was absolutely awful in comparison. I had to push the GP for a referral as the connection with breastfeeding isn't really accepted here in Cambridge. When she was 8 weeks old she was seen by a consultant in Addenbrooke's who was not well practiced in dealing with little mouths and the procedure did not go smoothly; he needed two attempts, lots of bleeding and maximum discomfort for my little girl. A totally different experience. Something definitely needs to change here in Cambridgeshire.

when our son was born the midwife noticed he had a tongue-tie. she also said the division could be easily done in a second right there and then if she were allowed. Instead we had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment at Hinchinbrooke to have it done with two consultants there. What a waste of time and money for everyone... Not to mention the soreness due to our son not latching properly... Luckily he was determined enough to get enough milk from me!

As a parent and Chair of Cambridge NCT I strongly support this.

I had three children all with tongue tie, all of whom had a frenulectomy done privately because of the failings of the current system.

My sons tongue tie was undiagnosed for 6 weeks and he was unable to feed. Due the tongue tie's position we would have had to travel further to get it done and wait at least 2 weeks. We went private and had it done the next day. Tongue tie should be checked for at birth and division carried out before leaving hospital (if required) to ensure that feeding can be properly established. I can't understand why it isn't carried out at birth. It would have saved us (and I'm sure many other new parents) a lot of stress and heartache as our baby couldn't feed.

My baby wasn't diagnosed at birth, and her tie wasnt picked up until she was nearly 4 months - although she found a way to breastfeed her tongue tie meant she had no bilateral movement which can lead to tooth decay and speech problems. We went private to have it done. Wholeheartedly believe this should be checked at birth through NHS.

I fed through terrible pain for 7 weeks. I can totally see why so many women give up breastfeeding which is such a shame. S still has problems with her tongue (she can't stick her tongue out or lick her lips). As a Cambridge resident I am at a complete loss as to how to get her the treatment I think she still needs.

My younger son had tongue tie which was undiagnosed for two weeks. Feeding was agony. I only persevered and sought help because I'd breast fed before and knew something wasn't right. We went privately in the end but a service at Addenbrookes would have been invaluable to us.

My son had 100% tongue tie, it was so painful to feed. Had to have it done privately, on the way home from the hospital. The midwives were great, they know it is a service that is needed there. Serious about promoting breastfeeding - not till this service is available quickly!