Christina Vedia

 Deadline Date: 19 July 2018 Client: Scottsdale Ears, Nose & Throat Copywriter Initials: CV Editor Initials: Blog Number: 1 Heading: Tongue-tie and breastfeeding Word Count: 578 Content: Minimum 350 words, ensure American spelling, font: size 12, Arial There’s no feeling more fulfilling to a new mother than to hold your newborn close to your chest after such a grueling birthing process. Though the feeling of latching your child to your breast is a bit uncomfortable at first, the thought of knowing that you are supplying your child the best nutrients and disease-fighting substances with your milk is enough nudge to get new moms to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is best for babies and, surprisingly, mothers, too. It helps new moms shed off their pregnancy weight faster as it burns 20 calories just to produce an ounce of milk. It also aids in the body’s production of the hormone oxytocin that helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and reduce uterine bleeding after birth. Amazingly, studies have also shown that mothers who breastfed are at a lower risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer as well as osteoporosis. Having known those benefits, a lot of new moms now are becoming more inclined to breastfeed. Breastfeeding may be just a walk in the park for most mothers but for moms with tongue-tied baby, it maybe a little bit challenging. Firstly, what is tongue-tie in babies? Tongue-tie or ankyloglossia is a common congenital or present at birth condition where the band of tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth(frenulum) is too short or tight that causes restricted movements of the tongue. Normally in the process of breastfeeding, the infant opens their mouth widely allowing the tongue to protrude forward past the gum ridge and takes a mouthful of the breast. This allows for the milk sinuses to be massaged by movements of the baby’s tongue, releasing the milk through the nipple. The tongue, in essence, protects the nipple from being painfully squashed or damaged. Tongue-tied babies are often unable to open their mouth widely and latch correctly and can be very painful for nursing moms. Mothers caught in this situation often feel helpless, disappointed, and even guilty. This may also cause postpartum depression. Here are tips on how to possibly correct tongue-tie and succeed in breastfeeding: 1. Have your pediatrician or lactation consultant check for tongue-tie during the first routine examination. It is better to know if your little one is tongue-tied at an early stage so you can get the necessary support. 2. Joining a breastfeeding support group. Breastfeeding a tongue-tied baby is not an easy task and you will find comfort knowing you are not alone in the journey. There is usually a board-certified lactation consultant who will guide you in properly latching. 3. Frenotomy. This is the procedure where the tongue-tie is clipped and corrected. This is usually a difficult decision for parents especially for the mother as it used to come with a few risks for the baby like excessive bleeding, pain, and even infection. First thing one needs to consider is finding a trusted provider that comes highly recommended. Tongue-tie can cause future frustration for the baby and the mom, not to mention dental problems when left untreated. A new way of treating tongue-tie is called the “tongue-tie release” procedure. This is very quick, completely painless, and usually resolves feeding problems immediately with one simple snip to the connective skin under the tongue which heals in a matter of days. If you suspect that your baby has tongue-tie and wish to book a consultation, give us a call at: - or you can drop us an e-mail at-