Tongue Tie Treatment and IBCLC Services in Betley and Crewe Area

If you are are reading this and you suspect that your baby has a tongue tie, you are in the right place! Tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, can cause challenges with breastfeeding and bottle feeding and for families in and around the Betley and Crewe area, access to skilled support from International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and specialised tongue tie treatment can make a positive difference to their feeding journey. Sadly, long NHS wait lists can cause delay in receiving support that is time sensitive in many ways.

Understanding Tongue Tie and Its Impact

Tongue tie occurs when the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually short, tight, or thick. This restriction can limit tongue movement, leading to difficulties such as:

• Poor latch when breastfeeding or bottle feeding

• Nipple pain or damage for the mother

• Inadequate milk transfer causing slow weight gain in the baby

• Inadequate stimulation of milk production leading to low milk supply

  
  

Early recognition is key and many parents either notice feeding struggles, fussiness during feeds, or have been told that their baby may have a tongue tie. However, in all cases, professional assessment is required to make the diagnosis and provide treatment.

Treatment Options for Tongue Tie

Treatment depends on the severity of the tongue tie and the symptoms experienced. Options include:

Conservative Management

• Feeding support and positioning adjustments

• Care planning to promote and protect breastfeeding

• Care planning to make bottle feeding as comfortable as possible

• Exercises to improve tongue mobility

  
  

Surgical Intervention

• Frenulotomy: A procedure using sterile scissors to divide the tissues with the aim to release the tongue to improve latch and feeding

  
  

Shami at Thrive Infant Feeding is based in the Betley and Crewe area offering assessments and feeding support from Osteopathy Works, Main Road, CW3 9BH. When choosing support, consider credentials, experience with tongue tie, and the availability of follow-up care.