How tongue ties affect breastfeeding
Do you experience discomfort when breastfeeding? Does your baby find it difficult to latch? Are you starting to worry because they seem to be gaining weight too slowly? A tongue tie may have something to do with it.
What is a tongue tie?
Tongue ties occur when the frenulum is too short or tight. The frenulum is a piece of tissue under the centre of the tongue. It attaches the tongue to the mouth and keeps it in place. Normally, the frenulum recedes before birth. But in some cases, this doesn’t happen, resulting in a tongue tie.
Tongue tie symptoms
Tongue ties in babies can be mild or severe. Here are some signs to check.
- Difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding
- Inability to lift or move their tongue sideways
- Inability to extend the tongue past their lips
- Slow weight gain
- Misshaped tongue (appears heart-shaped or square instead of pointed)
- Seems hungry even after long feedings
- Refusing to feed
You may be able to spot irregularities when you take a peek into your baby's mouth when they yawn or cry. But sometimes tongue ties occur at the back of the tongue, making it hard to detect.
The possible impact of tongue tie on breastfeeding
Tongue ties may affect your baby’s breastfeeding experience. Frenulum malformation limits your baby’s tongue movements. While symptoms vary, babies with the condition often find it hard to stick their tongues out and latch during breastfeeding.
Babies use their tongues to draw the nipple and areola into their mouths. This allows them to extract milk from the breasts. But because of their limited tongue movement, they're unable to latch onto nipples properly. They may resort to sucking harder and squeezing, which can be painful for mothers.
Your baby may feel frustrated if they cannot latch at all. Because of the pain, they may discontinue or refuse to breastfeed eventually. The process can also be stressful for you. Your milk production may decline if your baby stops breastfeeding. And you may feel like weaning sooner than you prefer.
Aside from breastfeeding issues, a tongue tie may also lead to speech and oral hygiene problems.
Treating tongue ties in babies
Let your doctor or dentist know immediately if you feel your baby may have a tongue tie. Not all tongue tie cases need treatment. If it does require one, your healthcare provider may recommend a minor procedure called frenotomy.
Frenotomy is a quick procedure. It involves snipping the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Anaesthetic isn’t necessary, and babies usually seem unbothered by the procedure. The area may feel sore for them afterwards, but this is temporary.
The inside of the baby's mouth heals quickly. After a short time, your baby can try nursing again and this time, enjoy the experience.
Tongue tie correction in Peace River, Alberta
It’s understandable to hesitate or worry about your baby undergoing a procedure at such a young age. But tongue tie correction is a simple process, and the earlier the problem is addressed, the better it is for you and your baby’s breastfeeding journey and subsequently their growth and development.
If you're in Peace River, Alberta, contact our team at