This might be resolved by manual therapy, such as osteopathy or chiropractic from a registered practitioner (ATP, no date Oakley, 2021). Support to improve your baby’s attachment to the breast may resolve the problem (UNICEF, no date).Ī baby’s inability to open their mouth widely and extend their tongue may also be caused by tension around the mouth and neck, resulting from birth tensions or interventions during labour.
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If you and/or your baby are experiencing feeding difficulties, a feeding assessment and some breastfeeding support from a breastfeeding counsellor or trained breastfeeding professional is recommended.
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Tongue-tie shares many of the symptoms of other breastfeeding problems, so it’s not always easy to determine whether these problems are caused by a tongue-tie or something else.Ī full feeding assessment should be done before or as part of a tongue-tie assessment (Oakley, 2021). Some babies have a visible frenulum that doesn’t cause problems with feeding (UNICEF, no date). That means these anatomical descriptions of how the tongue looks don't always relate to how severely a tongue-tie will affect tongue function and your baby's feeding (Oakley, 2021). So 100%, or type I, would indicate that the frenulum comes all the way to the front of the tongue.Ī posterior tongue-tie, which may be described as a 10% tongue-tie, can restrict tongue function just as much as an anterior one. This percentage or number describes how far along the underside of the tongue the frenulum comes. Tongue-ties might also be described using a percentage or a number (type I, II, III and IV).
Tongue-ties can be described as anterior (where the frenulum extends towards the front of the tongue) or posterior (towards the back of the mouth). It can only be diagnosed by a qualified tongue-tie practitioner (NHS, 2020). A tongue can look completely normal to an untrained eye yet still cause substantial problems with feeding (Young, 2011).Ī tongue-tie is diagnosed by the baby’s tongue function too – what they can do with their tongue. Tongue-tie is not just about how your baby’s tongue looks. have difficulty lifting their tongue or moving it from side to side.have a tongue with a heart-shaped appearance at the tip.are unable to extend their tongue fully.If you look in your baby’s mouth, you might be able to see if they: (Oakley, 2021) How is tongue-tie diagnosed? Can I tell if my baby has a tongue-tie? can only manage a teat that has a very slow flow.gags on feeds even when you slow the feed down.needs to be fed very often in order to get enough milk.
If you are bottle-feeding your baby, you might notice one or more of the following – your baby: Feeds which are long or frequent can be very tiring (NHS, 2020 Oakley, 2021). It can also have a negative effect on your milk supply. If your baby isn’t draining your breasts adequately, this can lead to engorgement, blocked ducts and mastitis. If you are breastfeeding your baby and they have tongue-tie, you might find your nipples are sore and appear squashed after a feed, often appearing ridged, lipstick-shaped, flattened or blanched. poor weight gain or excessive early weight loss.difficulty in maintaining a latch, with your baby frequently coming off the breast or slipping back to the nipple.If your baby has a tongue-tie and you are breastfeeding, you might experience one or more of the following in your baby: Then the tongue needs to massage the breast in a wave-like motion to remove milk from the breast (Oakley, 2021). In order to breastfeed, a baby needs to be able to open their mouth wide, extend their tongue over their bottom lip and scoop the breast into their mouth. For others, tongue-tie can make feeding extremely challenging or even impossible. For some babies, the effects will be quite mild. Tongue-tie can affect both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. In babies where they frenulum extends all the way to the tip, the tongue may look heart-shaped. Some will be unable to lift the posterior of the tongue (bowl-shaped tongue). Some will be able to lift the sides, but not the tip (v-shaped tongue). If a baby has a tongue-tie, they may not be able to extend or lift their tongue or move it from side to side. What problems does tongue-tie cause for babies? Tongue-tie occurs if the frenulum either extends forwards towards the tip of the tongue, is attached close to the lower gum, or is short and tight so it interferes with normal tongue movement (Oakley, 2021). Most people have a frenulum – a piece of tissue under their tongue that stretches from the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
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