Tongue ties are common in babies and early detection is crucial. Warning: This post contains illustrations of breast-feeding. Most new parents have no idea what tongue-tie is. Known as ankyloglossia, it is where the tongue has an extra bit of skin and is unable to touch the roof of the mouth during rest or swallowing. It occurs in 5 % of the population, is more common in males than females, and can run in families. There are degrees of severity, so some babies are able to attach to the breast and suck well despite a tongue-tie . However, many will have breastfeeding problems (sometimes from birth, sometimes from 2 or 3 weeks) due to poor latch. Here are some of the signs that make early detection cruicial:
The following picture illustrates a normal suck where the baby's tongue massages the nipple in a circular fashion.
If untreated as a baby, it can go on to alter speech. Affected adults and children will often try to speak with a small mouth opening, slowly or softly so that they can pronounce specific consonants. According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association, your baby may have a tongue-tie if:
As osteopaths, we can identify any neck or facial asymmetry in babies, treat any symptoms of colic or gastrointestinal discomfort and recommend a referral to a lactation consultant if we suspect a tongue-tie.
Once diagnosed, the tongue-tie is snipped without anaesthetic in a quick procedure. Breastfeeding may improve immediately or it may take 2 weeks for the baby to relearn feeding technique. Comments are closed.
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Enhance Osteopathy Heidelberg
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