Tongue-tie and frenotomy in infants with breastfeeding difficulties: achieving a balance

Abstract

Good assessment and selection are important because 50% of breastfeeding babies with ankyloglossia will not encounter any problems. We recommend 2 to 3 weeks as reasonable timing for intervention. Frenotomy appears to improve breastfeeding in infants with tongue-tie, but the placebo effect is difficult to quantify. Complications are rare, but it is important that it is carried out by a trained professional.

Management of Ankyloglossia and Breastfeeding Difficulties in the Newborn: Breastfeeding Sessions, Myofunctional Therapy, and Frenotomy

“…Currently, there is a debate on how best to manage young infants with tongue-tie who have breastfeeding problems [5, 7, 26, 28]. …”

“…Martinelli et al in 2015 demonstrated that, after a lingual frenotomy, babies with a short lingual frenulum show changes that favour the appropriate standards of breastfeeding and all the symptoms reported by the mothers improved [2]. Furthermore, Power and Murphy in 2015 conclude that 50% of the breastfed babies with ankyloglossia will not encounter any problems [5]. …”

Frenotomy for tongue‐tie in Australian children, 2006–2016: an increasing problem

“…Clinically significant tongue‐tie in breastfeeding pairs was overlooked during the second half of the 20th century. Tongue‐tie (and the newer diagnoses of upper lip tie and posterior tongue‐tie) have received increased attention following the resurgent commitment of women to breastfeeding over the past decade and the growth in numbers of breastfeeding support professionals 1 , 5 …”

Tongue‐ties: a response to media concerns

“…A systematic review of the literature in 2013 identified long-term improvement in breastfeeding in more than 50% of cases 3 . Moreover complications from the procedure are reported to be uncommon 4 and rare in our experience at Torbay Hospital.…”