Infant Frenectomy
Occurring in roughly 5% of newborn babies, ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is a condition in which the frenulum (the tissue under the tongue that connects to the bottom of the mouth) is short and inhibits tongue motion. In some infants with the condition, the frenulum can be attached to the tip of the tongue and back of the lower gum. While the condition is rarely a serious medical problem, the condition can create breastfeeding difficulties.
When babies breastfeed, the tongue extends and curls into a U-shape on the underside of the mother’s breast. Ideally, the nipple and breast tissue are drawn deep into the child’s mouth, towards the back of the throat, so that when suckling, the nipple will not be pinched against the roof of the mouth. Because the condition limits the child’s ability to lift and stick out their tongue to properly latch onto the nipple, infants with tongue-tie often have difficulty breastfeeding which can make gaining weight difficult. Fortunately, the condition is easily correctable through a surgical frenectomy carrollton procedure.
Signs Exhibited by a Mother-Baby Couplet with Tongue-tie
- The baby’s tongue is “heart-shaped”, with a divet or dent in the tip of the tongue (most noticeable when crying)
- Baby cannot properly latch onto the breast; repeatedly pulls off after settling their mouth on the nipple
- Baby makes a clicking sound or sucks in their cheeks while nursing
- Failure to gain or sustain weight despite adequate nursing
- Nipple pain during feeding that does not improve with re-latching; the nipple may be pinched, bruised, scabbed, or cracked
- Low milk supply and/or breast infections often due to incomplete or infrequent emptying of the breast
None of these signs are absolute indicators of a baby being tongue-tied nor do all tongue-tied infants have difficulty breastfeeding. Every mother-baby pair is different so even if the baby appears to have significant tongue-tie, they may still be able to breastfeed very well. On the other hand, babies that appear to have mild tongue-tie, may struggle greatly when breastfeeding. Because of this, consulting with an experienced lactation consultant is the ideal way to evaluate the specific situation to identify the root of the problem and appropriate action to take.
Frenectomy Procedure in Infants
Treating a newborn with ankyloglossia is straightforward, fast, and easily performed procedure that is completed in the hospital or pediatrician’s office. While the baby is swaddled, the tongue is lifted up with fingers or instruments and the frenulum is completely clipped with sterile scissors. There is very little pain during the procedure, because the thin frenulum has few nerves, so anesthesia is typically not required. The procedure takes about 15 seconds and after completion, the baby is able to breastfeed immediately. Mothers typically notice improvements during the first feeding subsequent the frenectomy.
In some cases, the frenulum can stretch on its own and breastfeeding may improve without treatment. In other cases, the nipple pain can be severe enough that the mother quits nursing entirely. So while tongue-tie may not be the root of all breastfeeding problems, and a frenectomy may not be the cure all, the procedure should be considered and may be appropriate for infants having difficulty breastfeeding.
More on Frenectomy : Lingual Frenectomy
