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Have you tried using a nipple shield?
The tongue tie procedure seems like it would be worthwhile in the long run. That’s so crazy that it isn’t covered!
I wasn’t able to breastfeed my first for various reasons and he’s two now and completely healthy, 90th percentile on height and weight, only gets sick maybe once a year. I was really sad about it at first but you still get that bond with bottle feeding and can still do skin to skin! I only was able to breastfeed my January baby for a couple weeks and he’s also doing great with formula. Fed is best and being attached to a pump all day wasn’t good for my sanity either.
Both my babies are/were on formula and my oldest is in the 95-97th percentile on everything and has never been sicker than a cold
My son was born on 1/22 with a tongue tie too. Feeding is rough for sure. I know you mentioned insurance doesn’t cover it. I know dental insurance doesn’t cover it but have you checked if health insurance covers it if it’s done with an ENT?
My son was born on 01/24 with a tongue tie. We had the same issue. He wasn’t latching and if he was he wasn’t transferring any milk. We the nipple shield but he wouldn’t take it either. Mentally it was not sustainable for me to exclusively pump. Like you said, I was a prisoner to my chair. We took him to a pediatric dentist to have the tongue tie cut via laser. We still don’t know if the insurance is going to reimburse us (request pending) but in the long run it’s worth it. Formula is crazy expensive. We did the math and since I have a good milk supply it was financially more worth it to do the procedure (it was $400) comment to paying for formula for 1 year. My son is currently still learning to use his tongue but he’s fully able to nurse. It just takes him a little longer than I would like (about 45 min- 1 hour) but the lactation consultants said they are optimistic that he will be more efficient within 6 weeks. With that being said, do what’s best for you physically and mentally.
When my girl went to daycare at around 6 months, I quickly realized that I was not going to be able to pump enough milk for her. It was really sad for me! I had to work through the guilt and disappointment around making the switch. I know fed is best but it was hard. However, once we made the switch, I felt so much relief! Baby was fed, I wasn’t stuck pumping and hating it, and we found a routine that worked for us. My girl is 18 months old and thriving. She never skipped a beat as we transitioned to formula :) we used Kendamil Goat milk formula since she seemed a little sensitive to cows milk based formulas.
My baby is 6 weeks old and we formula feed. It provides him nutrients he needs, keeps him fed, and allows both parents to participate in feeding. Hubby & I switch off nights, which allows more consecutive sleep for me since I’m not pumping/breastfeeding. We did this from day 3 and I have zero regrets. It really works for our family unit.
My baby was also born with a tongue tie. He wasn’t latching very well, so he wasn’t getting enough to eat and my nipples started to crack and bleed. I did a mix of pumping and using formula until we could get the procedure, but by the time we got his tongue tie fixed, he HATED my nipple. Wouldn’t take it, totally spoiled on the bottle. I wanted to keep pumping but couldn’t find the time or energy to pump every 2-3 hours round the clock. It’s really hard, both physically and mentally. Made the switch to formula and felt an immense amount of guilt, but he is extremely healthy and I feel a bit more independent if that makes sense. I’m not tied to a pump and I have my body back to myself. Fed is best, and mom’s mental health is just as important
I wasn't able to breastfeed my first due to my PPD, lack of supply, and he just didn't latch very well. I pumped for as long as I could but was having to supplement with formula from the beginning. Your mental health is just as important as anything! Even though I felt guilty when I stopped pumping, it had no comparison to how much weight and stress that was lifted from me the moment I decided to stop. My son is 2 now and he's been so healthy and happy ❤️ do what's best for you and in return it will also be what's best for your baby.