Does my baby have a tongue tie?

A tongue tie, often defined as short lingual frenulum, which is the piece of tissue that tethers the underside of the tongue to the lower part of the mouth.  Some ties can be very anterior and obvious even changing the shape of the tongue, while others are more posterior and less apparent.  With breastfeeding, it is important to assess the ties position, frenulum tensity, tongue function and range of motion as well as tension in the surrounding area (jaw, mouth, neck, shoulders).

Some issues that can arise from a tongue tie include:

• Baby having difficulty of drawing breast into their mouth resulting in a shallow latch
• Sore nipples due to a poor latching or inefficient tongue movement
• Incomplete draining of the breast after breastfeeding
• Increased risk of blocked ducts as well as subsequent mastitis
• Unsatiated baby
• Baby not gaining well
• Decreasing supply due to baby not able to drain breast

The best strategy is early assessment so that there is as little impact as possible to the breastfeeding relationship, breast health and supply.

An assessment should involve a thorough investigation of the tongue’s function, and not only the presence or absence of an obvious tongue tie.  This is typically done with the health care provider using a gloved hand inside the baby’s mouth.

By investigating the tongue function and tension of surrounding areas, the best course of action can be determined, as not all ties need to be released.  Generally, some infant bodywork, stretches or exercises done by a health professional or by the parents is an important piece of puzzle to help give the baby the best possible resolution. Simply releasing the tie does not necessarily address accompanying tension that may be present.

If you think your baby may have a tongue tie or oral tension and experiencing some of the above issues, let’s connect!  I provide an oral assessment with all my lactation focused visits.

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Mélanie Jacobson ND IBCLC is a Toronto-based Naturopathic Doctor and Lactation Consultant. She focuses on breastfeeding education, and supporting families with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combo feeding as well as solid food introduction. She is available for home, clinic and virtual visits. You can book your free 15 min meet and greet consultation right here to discuss her services and approach.