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Breastfeeding and tongue tie Breastfeeding is the highly recommended diet for a new born baby and it is good for the mother’s health too. Similarly, any complication regarding breastfeeding is ought to cause problems for both. Such a problem that makes breastfeeding difficult for the baby is tongue tie. The other name for this problem is ankyloglossia. Babies facing this problem have a shorter frenulum than the required length. It is that part of the mouth which connects the bottom of the tongue to the mouth floor. The frenulum being short causes restricted tongue movement. This problem is found to exist in 2% of babies. This can be hereditary with more than one family member having it at the time of birth. Diagnosis This problem can be diagnosed very easily by observing the shape of the tongue bottom of the newborn tongue tied baby. If the tongue is heart shaped from the tip with the tip being pulled down by a tight tissue, this may mean the baby has the condition. To get a clearer view, you can try putting your finger into the baby’s mouth and observe its bottom shape when he starts sucking it. A clicking sound made by the baby during breastfeeding may also indicate the existence of the problem. This issue may exist in babies in a variable percentage so it is better to see a doctor as soon as you doubt its existence. Consequences The difficulty caused depends greatly upon the percentage of the problem. If the tissue is very tightly attached, it is more likely to cause feeding and speaking problems. If this problem is not diagnosed and treated in time, it may cause great difficulty for the baby while pronouncing certain sounds like ‘th’, ‘s’, ‘t’, ‘d’ and ‘l’. In other cases, it may also make it difficult for the baby to lick an ice cream, stick out the tongue or play a wind instrument. Furthermore, this condition may also cause a couple of dental problems like gum receding due to excessive pressure, gum bleeding, loosening or falling of teeth and a misaligned dental structure with gaps in between. These problems will only develop if the problem is not treated in time but the only issue that requires immediate attention is the baby's inability to feed. It may result into low weight gain and annoyance in the baby. This may also cause problems for the nursing mother as she may experience nipple trauma, plugged ducts and other issues. Treatment In some cases when the condition is mild, it may get corrected on its own during the first year causing no problems in feeding or speech. But if it exists in a great percentage, the baby may need a small surgery called frenetomy to get it corrected. The frenulum is clipped and the baby is put to breastfeed immediately. There is no or minimal bleeding and stitches are not required.
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