By Dr. Abduljeleel Balogun
When a baby has a tongue-tie, the piece of tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of d mouth is short, tight, or thick. It may be attached close to d tip of d tongue preventing d tongue from moving freely and from sticking out past the baby's gums.
Every newborn examination should include checking for the presence of tongue or lip tie. The tongue may even look heart shaped when the baby cries or tries to push it out.
A baby with a tongue-tie may be able to breastfeed without any problems, or he may not be able to breastfeed well at all. It really depends on the baby and the severity of the tongue-tie.
A baby with a tongue-tie may not be able:
🔵To open his mouth wide enough to latch on to the breast and seal the latch well.
🔵To make use if its tongue for the necessary movements to squeeze the milk ducts under the nipple as he's breastfeeding.
🔵To suck which can prevent the baby from effectively removing the breast milk from the breast.
How a Tongue-Tie Can Impact Babies:
A tongue-tie can have varied effects on babies. These are just a few:
✔Irritability and crying: If your child is always hungry and frustrated, he may be irritable and cry a lot.
✔He may also have trouble sleeping.
✔Breast refusal: Some babies will refuse the breast if it's frustrating to nurse and they aren't getting enough breast milk.
✔Poor weight gain: If your child cannot latch on and breastfeed well, he will not get enough breast milk to grow and gain weight at a consistent rate.
❌Other issues: As the baby grows a short frenulum can cause problems with eating, swallowing, and speech.
Tongue-Tie and Mothers
A tongue-tie can also have some negative effects on mothers.
1) Sore nipples: If your newborn is only latching onto your nipple or he's chewing or gumming your nipple as he's trying to nurse, it can lead to sore, cracked, damaged nipples.
2) Painful breast problems: When the baby isn't able to breastfeed well, he can't drain the breasts of the breast milk. The build-up of breast milk in the breasts can lead to breast engorgement, plugged milk ducts, and mastitis.
3) A low breast milk supply: A poor latch and the ineffective removal of breast milk can quickly decrease the breast milk supply.
4) Emotional stress: Breastfeeding difficulties can lead to frustration and a lack of breastfeeding confidence. If the baby isn't getting enough milk , it can also be scary or cause sadness and feelings of guilt.
5) Early weaning: Painful breastfeeding, a low breast milk supply, and dealing with a frustrated, hungry baby who is gaining weight too slowly can all lead to early weaning.
Usually a minor surgery or procedure for babies with a tongue-tie can be done. It's a simple snip of the frenulum under your child's tongue.
The doctor can use local anesthesia, but most newborns can handle it without any anesthesia. It does not bleed much, and stitches are usually not needed.
When a baby has a tongue-tie, the piece of tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of d mouth is short, tight, or thick. It may be attached close to d tip of d tongue preventing d tongue from moving freely and from sticking out past the baby's gums.
Every newborn examination should include checking for the presence of tongue or lip tie. The tongue may even look heart shaped when the baby cries or tries to push it out.
A baby with a tongue-tie may be able to breastfeed without any problems, or he may not be able to breastfeed well at all. It really depends on the baby and the severity of the tongue-tie.
A baby with a tongue-tie may not be able:
🔵To open his mouth wide enough to latch on to the breast and seal the latch well.
🔵To make use if its tongue for the necessary movements to squeeze the milk ducts under the nipple as he's breastfeeding.
🔵To suck which can prevent the baby from effectively removing the breast milk from the breast.
How a Tongue-Tie Can Impact Babies:
A tongue-tie can have varied effects on babies. These are just a few:
✔Irritability and crying: If your child is always hungry and frustrated, he may be irritable and cry a lot.
✔He may also have trouble sleeping.
✔Breast refusal: Some babies will refuse the breast if it's frustrating to nurse and they aren't getting enough breast milk.
✔Poor weight gain: If your child cannot latch on and breastfeed well, he will not get enough breast milk to grow and gain weight at a consistent rate.
❌Other issues: As the baby grows a short frenulum can cause problems with eating, swallowing, and speech.
Tongue-Tie and Mothers
A tongue-tie can also have some negative effects on mothers.
1) Sore nipples: If your newborn is only latching onto your nipple or he's chewing or gumming your nipple as he's trying to nurse, it can lead to sore, cracked, damaged nipples.
2) Painful breast problems: When the baby isn't able to breastfeed well, he can't drain the breasts of the breast milk. The build-up of breast milk in the breasts can lead to breast engorgement, plugged milk ducts, and mastitis.
3) A low breast milk supply: A poor latch and the ineffective removal of breast milk can quickly decrease the breast milk supply.
4) Emotional stress: Breastfeeding difficulties can lead to frustration and a lack of breastfeeding confidence. If the baby isn't getting enough milk , it can also be scary or cause sadness and feelings of guilt.
5) Early weaning: Painful breastfeeding, a low breast milk supply, and dealing with a frustrated, hungry baby who is gaining weight too slowly can all lead to early weaning.
Usually a minor surgery or procedure for babies with a tongue-tie can be done. It's a simple snip of the frenulum under your child's tongue.
The doctor can use local anesthesia, but most newborns can handle it without any anesthesia. It does not bleed much, and stitches are usually not needed.
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