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“Your baby isn’t gaining weight like he should be,” the pediatrician explained.
My baby was three months old and something wasn’t right. It was right there on his growth chart, with the line going down instead of up. Tears welled up as the pediatrician explained that the cause was likely the content of my breast milk; that it wasn’t nutritive enough. I knew that wasn’t it. This was my third breastfed baby, after all. Still, I was too dumbfounded to respond.
“Let’s supplement your feedings with one 4oz bottle of formula per day and see if that helps.”
“Okay,” I replied. I didn’t know what else to say.
I started bawling as I left the office and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was a failure. I posted about our checkup on Facebook and I had a friend ask if I had checked for tongue ties. I had previously considered the possibility, but dismissed it because I did not have any pain while breastfeeding. I didn’t realize all the different ways tongue ties contributed to breastfeeding problems. After learning about more symptoms of tongue ties, I realized that I needed to look into this.
{Read the remainder of this post on Oklahoma City Moms Blog where it was originally published.}
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie is where the tissue underneath the tongue is tight or short and restricts the movement of the tongue. The upward movement of the tongue is what can affect breastfeeding. If the tongue cannot move properly, it cannot help form a seal around the breast to create the vacuum needed to extract the milk and is unable to compress the breast. Later in life tongue ties can affect speech, palate formation, and orthodontic issues. Both mother and baby can experience a variety of symptoms, but not necessarily all of them. Not all babies who have tongue ties have breastfeeding problems, but many do.
Looking for Breastfeeding Support?
- KellyMom.com. This website has a wealth of information and links to many lactation consultant directories, support groups, and other breastfeeding help.
- Tongue Tie Online Support Groups can give you recommendations for trusted providers to deal with tongue ties.
- La Leche League Groups and Meetings. You can connect with other moms and find information and support.
- Here are a few of my favorite items I used for breastfeeding, pumping, and taking care of newborns.
- How Tongue Ties Affect Breastfeeding
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