I want to share 'permanently' this link for anyone currently experiencing breastfeeding problems, or who may have missed it on the FB group.
If your baby has tongue tie (also known as ankyloglossia) it can make breastfeeding very tough going indeed. The infant is unable to milk the breast effectively because they're not able to use full range of tongue movement. This can lead to painful, cracked nipples, engorgement (possibly leading to mastitis), and problems in establishing a good milk supply (as not enough milk is being removed from the mother's breast). One study showed that mother/ infant dyads where tongue tie was a factor were over 8 times more likely to experience problems breastfeeding.
Sadly it's something which is very often missed by the professionals despite being relatively common. Some mums struggle on for weeks in pain, until they eventually give up - many feeling a failure because they 'couldn't breastfeed'.
To my mind, if our health care providers were really determined to support breastfeeding, they would be trained to add a careful tongue tie check to their list of other newborn checks.
It's quite easy to spot a really severe anterior tongue tie (see links for pictures), but other types are much easier to miss. This link is brilliant since it gives some really clear descriptions of what to look out for and has excellent images for reference.
The treatment for tongue tie is simple, quick and usually gives excellent relief to both parties. Babies can often breastfeed straight away. The sooner the procedure is done the better for all concerned, especially bearing in mind how important it is for the breastfeeding relationship. In very young babies it can usually be done using minimal anaesthetic - so you can see how important it is to identify the condition quickly. Some babies even sleep through the whole thing!
More information about tongue tie and it's treatment (frenulotomy) can be found here. This is a link to the NICE guidance concerning the procedure.
It's perhaps also worth knowing that tongue tie doesn't just affect breastfeeding. It can also affect the child's ability to eat solid food effectively, and also their speech.
Awareness is key in helping new mums breastfeed their babies.
An additional issue you might want to be aware of is the possibility of a lip tie. This is where the lip is too tightly attached to the gums by it's frenulum. Lip tie is a good deal less well-recognised than tongue tie - but it can affect the child's freedom to turn their lips outwards and thus establish a good latch. DBM member, Cara Del Favero contacted me to raise awareness of this problem, and she has provided some helpful links for this blog which you can access these here, here and especially here.
An additional issue you might want to be aware of is the possibility of a lip tie. This is where the lip is too tightly attached to the gums by it's frenulum. Lip tie is a good deal less well-recognised than tongue tie - but it can affect the child's freedom to turn their lips outwards and thus establish a good latch. DBM member, Cara Del Favero contacted me to raise awareness of this problem, and she has provided some helpful links for this blog which you can access these here, here and especially here.
Remember - if you're having problems breastfeeding TALK TO A BREASTFEEDING SPECIALIST. There is a list of support line numbers on the side of this blog (they're either free or just the cost of a local call), and you can look up your nearest UK-based IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) here.
Hiya
ReplyDeleteIn the UK we can't get lip ties treated and opinion seems pretty dividied as to whether it truly impacts. I think (from memory) this is partly based on some cultures where a huge percentage have lip tie and yet no bfing problems.
I've always managed to get round them with positioning, but that's not to say all babes can or all lip ties (just my experience) but as we can't get them resolved anyway, tis all a bit of a moot point.
Thanks AA - think the lady who commented & provided the links might be based the other side of the Atlantic - where things are different? Hopefully the information may still be of relevance to some people. Good to hear it can often be helped with positioning though!
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to pay attention to this. I had problems breast feeding my son but eventually we figured it out with the help of a nipple shield. However, I never really had a great milk supply as he would have to nurse often for short times. My son is tongue tied. He is now four and the dr just now said so. I've been fussing for TWO YEARS because he wasnt talking right and he wasnt eating right. He would gag and throw up solid food. As soon as I started feeding him solid food he started having a lot of problems. So if you think you are having problems while breast feeding just wait till you try and feed a tongue tied child solid food!!! It is heart breaking to watch your child try and eat and even like the taste of food then gag and throw up because he cant chew/swallow properly. PAY ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM!!! FIX IT EARLY!! I'm hoping the surgery to fix it will help my son. I'm just worried that it is too late and his speech will forever be messed up. I'm also worried he will now always have weird aversions to food.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you all if you read this.