What You Need to Know About Tongue Ties in Breastfeeding Babies

Ankyloglossia, the formal word for a tongue-tie, is a condition that affects between 0.2% and 2% of all babies born. It is characterized by a short frenulum, the tissue that tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the bottom of the mouth, and it is cause for concern as it can make eating, sucking, and even talking difficult. 

It also interferes with breastfeeding, an act of swallowing beneficial nutrients which are essential to life.

For a more in depth explanation of tongue ties and what to do when your baby has a tongue tie, please what our YouTube video:

A tongue-tied baby may have trouble latching onto the breast as they are unable to extend their tongue horizontally past the gum ridge, or their lips. Rather they latch onto the nipple, yet not far enough to extract milk, thus end up chewing or “gumming” it, to no avail. 

RELATED: Breastfeeding, Nursing, and Support

A simple warning sign of a tongue-tie to be aware of: breastfeeding is painful and your child is slow in gaining weight. A majority of breastfeeding problems can often be resolved by readjusting the baby’s position and attachment, but if changing your style doesn’t seem to help, then look under the tongue instead. 

Tongue Ties in Varying degrees, the following may occur:

• Baby may be unable to latch to the breast at all.
• Baby may attach shallowly, causing nipple damage.
• Difficulty creating a strong suction.
• Breastfeeding for extended periods of time, just to get enough. 
• Choking on a steady flow of milk.
• Poor weight gain, with supplementation necessary.

If your baby is struggling with breastfeeding, know that formula for a baby with tongue-tie is not necessarily the answer either, as they may also grapple with getting ahold of the bottle while milk drips from their mouth.

While a frenotomy, a minor medical procedure, may resolve problems (it is usually done before the baby reaches 6 months), there are other natural options to pursue. Encouraging tongue mobility is one. Helping your little one achieve a deeper latch is another. And if problems persist, seek the attention of your midwife or practitioner.
Was your baby tongue tied?  What problems did you experience as a result? What were your solutions? Please connect with us on Instagram @MapsCookingKids or on Twitter @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, agape, be kind, and happy parenting.