Neonatal Tongue Tie: The Effectiveness of Intervention

Abstract

The promotion of breastfeeding is a major public health concern. The World Health Organisation and UNICEF express the importance of breastfeeding up to two years and beyond. Tongue tie is identified in the literature as abnormally short frenulum which can lead to breastfeeding difficulties such as attachment, nipple pain and damage. Tongue tie is viewed by the Baby friendly hospital initiative (BFHI) as a readily treatable cause for breastfeeding difficulties. This review aimed to identify if the intervention of frenotomy is effective in resolving breastfeeding difficulties. The themes that emerged from the comprehensive review of the literature were the prevalence and diagnosis of tongue tie, the impact of tongue tie on breastfeeding and treating tongue tie and its effect. Frenotomy is widely identified in the literature as successful in benefiting mothers and their infants to continue breastfeeding. There are some key recommendations made for practice in relation to tongue tie. Neonatal Tongue Tie: The Effectiveness of Intervention 2/7

An Observational Study of Tongue Tie Release Using Bipolar Diathermy at Vellore District in Tamilnadu

“…In a study done in USA, in the University of Cincinnati published in 2002 there is a total prevalence of tongue tie in 18% of the total children population. In the UK, a study done at the Southhampton General Hospital showed tongue tie in 10% of the babies born there 7 . In the Indian scenario 12 babies per 1000 are affected by tongue tie according to a recent study in 2008.…”