Between 4 and 11% of babies are born with tongue tie, affecting their ability to feed effectively and potentially leading to serious health concerns.
Our baby boy is now almost three weeks old. His birth was relatively straightforward following an IV drip of oxytocin to get things going. However, we noticed that his tongue appeared not to be moving freely and his weight loss was 9.4% (10% is sometimes the cut off point for being readmitted into hospital). Tongue tie was confirmed by one of our midwives, so I decided to blog about it as it affects a significant proportion of newborn babies.
What is tongue tie?
Tongue tie is a common condition that affects some newborns. It is a condition where the frenulum (the piece of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too short or thick, making it difficult for a baby to move their tongue freely. It can have varying degrees of severity, ranging from mild to severe.
Breastfeeding is the most common challenge that parents of babies with tongue tie face. As newborns need to latch on to their mother’s breast in order to feed, tongue tie can make this difficult, leading to problems such as nipple pain, mastitis, slow weight gain or a lack of adequate feeding. However, parents who bottle feed may experience significant difficulties, too.
Not all babies with tongue tie require treatment. Those with a mild case may not experience any problems and can breastfeed comfortably. However, if there are breastfeeding difficulties, a simple procedure called a frenotomy may be recommended. In this procedure, the frenulum is snipped to loosen it, allowing for greater range of tongue movement.
It is important to note that tongue tie can also cause non-feeding related problems such as speech and development issues. In some cases, it can even lead to dental problems such as misaligned teeth or difficulty with oral hygiene.
Our Experience
As I mentioned earlier, we noticed the tongue tie and that was confirmed by one of our midwives. Immediately, she made a referral to the hospital for a frenotomy, also known as a tongue tie snip. At the time, we were advised that the wait might be a couple of weeks, but no one could be sure.
Upon discovering that this might not be a quick fix, I began research into private practices for correcting tongue tie and helping our baby boy to feed more efficiently, thus beginning to thrive. I found an appointment for a few days’ time locally and carried out by an experienced practitioner. Not wishing to jump the gun, we decided to wait to see how his weight was on the Sunday before booking the appointment. Unfortunately, it continued to be an issue for him, so we booked the appointment for the following day.
Luisa almost immediately confirmed the booking and sent a text asking for us to send over a video, which would indicate more clearly the level of tongue tie. While most can be snipped effectively in the private practice, some need to be carried out by a surgeon because of the risk of bleeding. The midwife had said that the tongue tie was a severe anterior one and Luisa confirmed that it appeared to be just that.
We were greeted the following day by Luisa and she explained the procedure in depth, guiding us through it. She checked baby’s mouth and latch, explaining that she thought it was viable. We spent around 45 minutes chatting and she made us feel far more at ease. Our six-day-old baby’s wellbeing was in her hands. I didn’t feel able to hold baby’s head while the snip was done, so hubby did this for me. The snip procedure was over and done with very quickly. He cried a little, but no more than when his nappy is being changed!
We wholeheartedly recommend Luisa at No Milk Like Mama’s – she was fantastic. While we are certainly not financially able to go private at the drop of a hat given our current financial situation and me being on maternity leave. However, in this situation, it became obvious that the procedure needed doing sooner rather than later for baby boy’s long term health. The phone call for the NHS appointment came through for almost two weeks after the private one, so the call we made was certainly the right one.
If you are worried your baby might have a tongue tie, it is crucial to monitor baby’s feeding habits and consult with a healthcare professional, such as midwife or health visitor. Early intervention can help to prevent complications and ensure that your baby gets the nourishment they need to thrive.
