Tongue Tie
Tongue Tie
The Frenulum Lingua is a small piece of skin which attaches the bottom of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. It helps stablise the tongue, making it easier to swallow and plays a role in eating as well as helping us shape sounds and words.
A small percentage of babies (around 3%) have a shorter than normal frenulum which ties their tongue more tightly to the mouth, making it more difficult for the baby to move their tongue. This can influence how well they can breast feed. Tongue tie varies from baby to baby and can be moderate to severe.
There are a number of signs your baby might have a tongue tie, but it is always best to confirm any observation with an assessment by a qualified Lactation. They will be able to determine if your baby has a tongue tie and if it is contributing to feeding issues.
These Signs Include
- Not being able to poke their tongue out
- The tip of the tongue has a v shape
- The tip of the tongue looks heart shaped
- The baby makes a clicky sound when trying to breast feed
- Your baby comes off the nipple often during feeding
- Your baby swallows a lot of air if you’re bottle feeding
- Has little weight gain
- Your nipple looks creased after feeding
Tongue tie can be addressed quite easily.
It involves a simple snip of the frenulum to free up the tongue. There is no need for a local anaesthetic. And it has a very low risk of complications.
Guy will consult with a lactation specialist to determine the severity of the tongue tie and to identify the best way to address the issue.
If you’d like further information – the Australian Breastfeeding Association has a very informative page which will help. (https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/tongue-tie)
The tongue is attached to the floor of the mouth by a small piece of connective tissue called a frenulum.
If the frenulum is too short, or too close to the front of the tongue, your baby might have problems extending their tongue – which is needed to create a strong suck during feeding.
Not every tongue-tie requires treatment — many babies manage feeding well despite having one, so assessment of feeding and tongue movement comes first. Where treatment is appropriate, the procedure, called a frenotomy, involves simply snipping the frenulum and is generally quick and well tolerated by most babies. It should be performed by a trained obstetrician or doctor experienced in the procedure, and can be performed in our rooms or while you and your baby are still in hospital.
As with any procedure, there are some risks, though serious complications are uncommon. The main risk is bleeding, which is usually minor. Other possible but less common risks include infection, ulceration at the site, or the tongue-tie reforming and needing a repeat procedure. Bleeding risk is higher if there is an undiagnosed or untreated blood-clotting issue, which is why your baby’s Vitamin K status is checked beforehand. We recommend this procedure be done by your obstetrician or a doctor familiar with your family’s health history.