Tongue-Tie & Lip-Tie
Restricted tongue or lip movement from tight frenulum. Signs: poor latch, nipple pain, clicking sounds while nursing, poor weight gain, prolonged feeds, milk leaking from mouth. Not all need treatment. Frenotomy (quick snip procedure) often resolves breastfeeding issues. Consult lactation consultant and pediatrician for evaluation.
What to Do
- Get evaluated by lactation consultant (IBCLC) first to rule out other latch issues
- Have pediatrician check for tongue-tie and lip-tie at well visits
- Try different breastfeeding positions to see if any work better
- If diagnosed, discuss with pediatrician whether frenotomy is recommended
- Frenotomy procedure is quick (minutes) with minimal bleeding if needed
- Do prescribed exercises after frenotomy to prevent reattachment
- Follow up with lactation consultant after procedure to optimize latch