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What is
Tongue-tie?

What is Tongue-Tie?

Tongue-tie (otherwise known as Ankyloglossia) is where the tongue is attached too tightly to the floor of the mouth by the frenulum, so as to restrict the movement and function of the tongue. This can affect basic functions, including the suck, swallow, breathe coordination. Sometimes it can affect management of milk flow causing choking, difficulty managing boluses of food when weaning, and there may be links to later speech development (although not in all cases).

Research suggests that it occurs during embryonic development when the floor of the mouth fails to separate adequately. This is thought to be linked to congenital and environmental factors. Sometimes a tongue-tie can be obvious to see by its appearance, however, many are not obvious and require a professional assessment of your baby’s tongue function and feeding history to identify if a restriction is present and affecting the feeding.

Tongue-tie can be hereditary / run in the family. It is also more common with males, research suggests a range of opinions from 3:1 to 2:1 Male:female ratio.

Signs and Symptoms of Baby Tongue-tie

 

Do any of the following apply to your baby?

  • Static weight
  • Weight loss
  • Slow weight gain
  • Prolonged Jaundice
  • Slow / prolonged feeds
  • Frequent feeding
  • Noisy feeds (clicking sound)
  • Dribbling during feeds
  • Reflux, Colic, wind, hiccough or flatulence
  • Obvious Restricted tongue movement
  • Restless during feeds
  • Unsettled post feeds
  • Difficulty staying attached to breast or bottle
  • Difficulty attaching to breast or bottle

Breastfeeding Complications

 

If you are Breastfeeding, you may experience some of the following:

  • Sore, damaged or bruised nipples
  • Misshapen nipples post feed
  • Discoloured nipples post feed
  • Engorgement (Hard uncomfortable breasts)
  • Inability to latch or remain on the breast
  • Breast refusal
  • Mastitis (Red, Hot, Hard, Painful breasts – Also See GP)
  • Thrush (Sharp stabbing Pains in breast post feed – Also See GP)
  • Painful (Toe-curling) feeds
  • Reduced Milk Supply

Bottle feeding Complications

If you are bottle-feeding, your baby may have the following difficulties:

  • Inability to make a seal around the teat
  • Holding the teat shallow at the front of the mouth
  • Noisy feeding (loud clicking sounds)
  • Dribbling from the sides of the mouth whilst feeding
  • Inability to control the flow of milk / Choking
  • Prolonged length of time to feed
  • Coming off the teat regularly
  • Dysfunctional sucking rhythm
  • Fussing and fractious during the feed

Information Booklet & Leaflet

Please see information section of main menu

Appointments

If you would like more advice about your baby’s feeding difficulties and possible tongue-tie, Submit an Enquiry Form to TERESA Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Registered Midwife and Tongue-tie Practitioner via the CONTACT US PAGE or just BOOK A CLINIC APPOINTMENT ONLINE.