The birth of a baby is a real-life miracle that brings joy and happiness into the lives of its parents. Along with joy, there is also the element of fear and excitement over the birthing procedure. However, to ensure that the health of the baby is in perfect shape after it starts its life outside the mother’s womb, there are several factors that the new parents and the birthing doctor have to take care of. One such important factor is breastfeeding.
For most new mothers, breastfeeding can be both a painful and stressful time. Although the initial breastfeeding is important to provide the essential nutrients and immunity to the baby, getting the baby to form a perfect latch onto the breast can take some time. For most babies, it is already a challenging task to be able to form the pressure seal that is important for breastfeeding and requires patience and practice on the part of the baby as well as the new mother. This process is made even more difficult when a baby is born with a tongue-tie. This condition can pose extra challenges for breastfeeding mothers but can be resolved with the help of a tongue-tie specialist near you.
What is tongue-tie?
As a baby grows in the womb, their tongues have a thin membrane of tissue under them that is called a frenulum. This thick cord of tissue that holds the tongue to the floor of the mouth thins out as the baby grows, allowing movement to the tongue.
Tongue-tie is a condition where the frenulum stays thick and short in a baby, restricting the free movement of the tongue. A tongue-tie in infants poses several challenges for them in successfully performing basic actions such as breastfeeding. The restricted tongue is incapable of forming a proper suction seal on the breast for efficient feeding. If continued into later life, a tongue-tie can become the cause behind speech defects.
However, there is no need to panic if you detect a tongue-tie in your baby. A pediatric tongue-tie centre in Tampa can easily help in providing the necessary treatment to your baby.
How can a tongue-tie be treated?
In medical terms, a tongue-tie is referred to as a lingual ankyloglossia. When this condition is detected or diagnosed in an infant, they are referred to an otolaryngologist, who is a specialist of the ear, nose, and throat. An otolaryngologist will evaluate the necessity of performing frenotomy, the procedure to free the lingual frenulum. Only when it is established beyond doubt that the lingual frenulum is the cause behind breastfeeding issues in the infant, a frenotomy will be recommended. A tongue-tie centre in Tampa will have all the required facilities to help with the entire process.
Important facts about tongue-ties
- Breastfeeding right after childbirth is a painful and difficult experience for almost all first-time mothers. There could be several reasons why the process is particularly difficult for one more than the other. Ankyloglossia is only one such reason, therefore it is better to consult with a lactation specialist before referring the infant to an ENT specialist for a frenotomy.
- There are reported cases of over-diagnosed tongue-ties where any corrective procedure was unnecessary. It is important to understand and evaluate the condition thoroughly before undergoing any medical procedure.
- Tongue-ties do not cause sleep apnea, a sleep disorder falsely linked with ankyloglossia.
- Tongue-ties do not correct on their own over time. If the condition is diagnosed, a medical procedure is required to prevent it from causing the infant any feeding issues or speech articulation issues further in life.
- 4-11% of all babies born have been identified with a tongue-tie.
- If untreated at the right age, tongue-ties can cause difficulties in maintaining oral health and in speech articulation.
With complete knowledge of tongue-ties, you can make an informed decision of whether you need to look for centres that provide tongue-tie treatment in Tampa.