Debra Hope BSc (Hons) Registered Midwife & Tongue-Tie Practitioner
What is a Tongue-tie?
A tongue-tie is where the strip of skin connecting the baby's tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than usual. The treatment for Tongue-Tie is a simple procedure called Frenulotomy. Guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests that Frenulotomy is usually safe for young babies and could help with feeding problems and that it should be carried out to assist mother and baby to feed more effectively.
Symptoms of a Tongue-Tie
Problems which may be due to a tongue-tie:
Mother:
- sore damaged nipples
- Nipples which look misshapen after a feed
- Mastitis
- low milk supply
- exhaustion or distress from constant feeding
Baby:
- restricted tongue movement
- small gape causing biting/grinding movement
- unsettled during feeds
- diffuculty staying attached to the breast or bottle
- frequent or very long feeds
- weight loss, slow weight gain
- clicking and/or dribbling during feeds
- colic, wind, hiccups, reflux
Division of tongue-tie can help to improve feeding
It is important that you view the procedure is part of a plan to improve your feeding. Following the division some mothers and babies notice an improvement straight away whilst others it can take a little longer.
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