Tongue Tie Services
Does my baby have a tongue tie?
In the UK, tongue tie is not routinely assessed at birth. Often parents are told by a healthcare professional that their baby has a minor tongue tie, or none at all, without proper assessment by a qualified practitioner. This makes it hard for new parents to recognise the signs and symptoms:
* Painful feeding with sore and/or damaged nipples
* Nipples which look misshapen after a feed (like a new lipstick)
* Babies who struggle to latch or fall off the breast quickly
* Babies who stay latched in excess of 45 minutes at a time
* Babies who seem hungry all the time and never seem satsified
* Babies who show bigger weight loss on day 5, or struggle with slow weight gain
* Babies who struggle with gas and/or seem to be dribbling a lot of milk during feeds
What is tongue tie?
A condition known as tongue tie (Ankyloglossia) occurs, in which a short or tight band of tissue beneath the tongue (referred to as the lingual frenulum) is present. This tightness can give the tongue a blunt, forked or heart-shaped appearance and limit its movement and function.
When the frenulum attaches
further back, the tongue might appear completely normal in shape.
Studies indicate that approximately 10% of infants are born with some form of restrictive frenulum beneath their tongue. Out of these, only half may experience significant limitations on tongue mobility which can complicate breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
For infants facing such challenges, undergoing a procedure to loosen the restrictive tissue can significantly improve their ability to feed.
