Five Myths About Tongue & Lip Ties

...and the perspective-offering facts that can replace them 

​Laura M. Gruber, IBCLC ​
#breastreadingblog

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​By the time you arrive at this website, it's likely you've been googling up a storm, trying to learn absolutely everything you can about tongue and lip-ties ​​(which I'll call "tongue-ties" or "ties" for the rest of this blog). You're likely that mom (or dad) who has a hundred pictures in your phone of your sweet crying baby's mouth, and you've trolled every online breastfeeding support group and forum trying to learn about how other parents fared with the whole tongue-tie issue.

If this is you, consider yourself gently nudged (begged, actually) to get off of Google and reach out to me (or to any other lactation consultant experienced in tongue-tie screening). For all you know, it could be that your baby is genuinely tongue-tied, or it could be that you just needed to learn a new latching technique, or maybe you needed specific-to-you (or your wife, partner, etc.) guidance to heal a nipple or increase your milk supply.

Yes, it seriously could be that easy...imagine clicking away from here, finally going to bed, and tomorrow having all of your tongue-tie questions addressed along with getting a snapshot of what your breastfeeding big-picture, and a plan to help you improve it all because you finally called an IBCLC (an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant).

But, alas, even if you *do* keep googling I want to empower you with perspective. I hope that these Five Myths about Tongue Tie help you:
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Tongue Tie Myths

​Myth #1: All pediatricians, ENTs, lactation consultants, pediatric dentists and speech pathologists know how to assess for tongue-tie

• Fact: Every day more providers are learning how to assess babies for tongue-ties but the fact is, that many still do not know how to screen or evaluate for ties. Providers who know how to assess for tongue-tie know that it is difficult to see the extent of a tongue-tie. Even when an obvious tie is seen, providers who know how to assess for them will do a thorough oral exam to understand how the tie is affecting the baby's general use of their mouth. Note: "Your latch looks great!" (even though you're cringing in pain or your baby's weight is affected) or "See, your baby can stick their tongue out just fine!" are two common things mothers are told by peers (forgivable, since most of your peers they aren't professionals) or providers who don't know how to assess (but who should be humble enough to refer to experienced providers). Remember, that it's perfectly ok to seek out a second opinion. Never be afraid to ask a provider about their experience screening for tongue tie.

Myth #2: Fixing your breastfeeding is as easy as having your baby's tongue-tie released.

• Fact: Actually, even though some mothers report near-instant improvement in a baby's latch, many babies go on to need extra help with learning to use their newly-loosened tongue or lip. Since the tongue and lips are muscles, their muscle-memory often needs to be retrained from how they had been using it during gestation and until their frenectomy (the procedure that releases a tie) was performed. In order to know whether your baby's latch has improved with a frenectomy alone (and the excercises you may be asked to do to keep the frenelum from re-attaching), follow-up with your lactation consultant (in addition to following up with the provider who performed the frenectomy) to ensure that latching and milk transfer has indeed improved. If you lactation consultant feels like your baby's oral-motor function needs further support, she (or he) will likely refer you to a speech pathologist who specializes in breastfed infants.

Myth #3: All babies with tongue ties need to have them released ASAP.

• Fact: Parents who have recently been told that their baby has a tongue-tie have been handed a lot to think about. Needless to say, anything that could affect a baby's ability to thrive is time-sensitive and requires a good amount of thought, however, just because a tie is "discovered" in a baby doesn't mean a baby has to undergo a procedure right away. Instead of stressing about your baby's tie alone, reach out to a lactation consultant who can help you stabilize and optimize your breastfeeding big-picture AND who can give you guidance on what to expect from your particular breastfeeding situation whether or not you decide to have your baby's tongue-tie released now, later or ever. Note: This section is not intended to deter families from having their tongue-tied baby's frenelum revised. Only you and your experienced providers know your breastfeeding situation, which is different for every breastfeeding couple. The choice to revise a tie should be carefully considered along with other situations (i.e. infant-weight loss, or mom's ability to produce milk) which are affecting your breastfeeding.

Myth #4: I only bottlefeed so my baby's tongue-tie doesn't matter.

• Fact: Your baby's tongue-tie matters the most, since bottlefed kiddos don't get to tone their tongues, lips and cheeks the same way breastfed babies do. In fact, tongue and lip-ties can affect an exclusively bottle-fed baby's current and future digestion, acceptance of solids, dentition (how their teeth come in), future speech, narrow nasal passageways, etc.. If you suspect that your bottlefed baby may be lip or tongue-tied, please have them assessed by a lactation consultant (yes, we work with bottle-feeding babies, too) or an infant speech pathologist.

Myth #5: All feeding issues in a baby are related to tongue and lip-ties.

• Fact: It may seem that way to some, especially if you're a member of breastfeeding circles where tongue-tie is a hot topic, but the truth is that infant feeding issues have their origin in many places. Feeding issues can arise from something as simple as a baby sleeping in wonky position, or they can stem from a baby having to a misshapen head and contorted body following malpositioning in the womb (for which craniosacral therapy, chiropractic and physical therapy care can help). Suck strength is a feeding issue which can be affected by a baby's general body muscle tone, oral muscle tone, jaundice levels, birth weight, weight loss, etc.

The bottom line...
If you're having feeding difficulties at all, its best to stop Googling and let your baby's doctor know immediately (espcially when a baby's weight gain is affected) AND quickly reach out to an IBCLC who can assess, improve or stabilize your breastfeeding big-picture until your baby's feeding difficulties are better understood.

If you are in San Antonio and surrounding areas, know that Breastfeeding Housecalls helps families overcome breast and bottle-feeding issues. Moms and babies are objectively screened and referred to the right providers. Arriving at a mother's breastfeeding goals during times of feeding difficulties are always discussed from a 'benefits vs. risks' perspective for the three entities involved in a breastfeeding relationship: the mother, the baby, and the breastfeeding itself. ​

Visit Breastfeeding Housecalls' Tongue-Tie Resources page for more education and San Antonio-area resources.