Lynn Timms, BSc (Hons), MBPsS

International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants.

Teacher of Developmental Baby Massage and Movement.

Lactation Consultant.

Providing breastfeeding preparation and support in your own home.

Frenulotomy (tongue tie division) procedure available.

Serving Portsmouth , Isle of Wight and the surrounding Hampshire area.

Tongue-Tie

What is Tongue-tie?

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition in which the thin piece of skin under the baby's tongue (the lingual frenulum) is abnormally short or tight which may restrict the movement of the tongue .
The tip of the tongue may also look heart shaped, forked or blunt.
There can be a history of other family members having this condition.

Possible problems caused.

Tongue-tie may not cause problems at all and therefore require no action.
However, a baby needs to be able to protrude the tongue forward to the lower gum in order to both latch effectively at the breast and maintain this latch during the entire feed.
If the tongue is not able to move freely then not only may optimal attachment to the breast be difficult to achieve, but cause sore and damaged maternal nipples as the baby attempts to feed.
This can then result in mastitis , a poor milk transfer, a reduced milk supply , an unsettled and colicky baby , not to mention an exhausted mum!
Bottle fed babies with tongue tie can also experience problems with their feeding, such as gagging, excessive dribbling, wind and a general disatisfaction after a feed.
Additional issues to consider with a tongue that has a restricted movement include possible problems with managing solid foods, oral hygiene and speech development.

Treatment options.

Support with breastfeeding and experimenting with different positions can be of benefit.
Please source help from a lactation expert to assist with the early days of feeding.

Some tongue-ties resolve themselves spontaneously.

Frenulotomy involves a simple procedure to release the tightness under the tongue. It takes only a couple of seconds or so, and without the need for an anaesthetic I can snip the tie with sterile, sharp , round ended scissors in the comfort of your own home. Your baby can attempt a feed immediately and I can discuss techniques to assist with the continuation of your breastfeeding.

Please refer to the prices and do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.

Further information.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have produced a comprehensive parent information sheet, about tongue tie, just click the link to access this printable pdf document.

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Helping a baby with tongue tie.

Nice Interventional Procedure Division of ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) for breastfeeding, information for the public. December 2005.

Tongue-tie information site.

Client feedback.

"Things are still going well for us and the BF is more pleasurable with every day. The tongue is healing beautifully. It's amazing how much wider she can now open her mouth now and latching on is so much easier for her."

"Just a note of thanks, she is certainly feeding a lot better and we are positive that the tongue divison has helped a lot. I am still a little sore but following your advice and things have started to improve. We have been visited by the midwife and the breast feeding advice lady who basically endorsed everything we had discussed. Once again thank you, if we have any problems we will certainly call again as you were extremely helpful."

"Thanks for your email and for coming over at such short notice on Friday. We are quite relieved to have had the tongue tie problem diagnosed and rectified. "

"his tongue seems fine now, and apart from his complete over excitement when presented with a nipple, which results in lots of head shaking and opening and shutting of his mouth, making getting him to latch on sometimes a bit tricky, he is feeding much better than before."