Breastfeeding can be one of the most rewarding and empowering experiences of your life. No reading preparedness can guide you to the actual experience you and your baby will have. There are unanswered questions, you are getting nowhere with the assistants from specialist. You have been told your baby does not have a tongue tie, but something is still not right with the latch and feeding (for you or baby).
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders affect all ages, from newborn to adulthood. This is a genetic link so check your other children and spouse for signs, here is more information. Or contact me for a free 30-minute consultation.
Many times, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders are overlooked at infancy for many reasons. Being a new mom can be overwhelming and there can be multiple factors with breastfeeding challenges. First, consult a lactation specialist, join a le leche league meeting in your community or reach out to their local leaders. Le Leche League is free of charge, there are no wrong questions to ask in this setting.
Honestly, many providers are unaware and untrained in identifying tongue tie or lip tie. What exactly do those terms mean? Under the tongue there is an attachment of tissue called a frenulum, from the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This size and location of where it attaches varies in everyone. However, when frenulum is shorter than normal movement of the tongue and cheeks are restricted. Think of it as having two fingers webbed together, you have all the parts, just two fingers are closer together and restricted. Now would you “wait and see” if it goes away or “outgrow” the tethering of the fingers or because you can “get by” with how they are functioning or would you get it fixed immediately? Silly question, but this is how some providers look at a tongue tie/lip tie. Infancy initiates muscle motor memory. When the baby learns how to function with a restricted tongue, other muscles are compensating in order to work. Restriction of the tongue is the babies lifeline for breastfeeding. Yes sometimes they attach well but their lips have blisters or worse, mom’s nipples are sore and malformed from the improper sucking. Babies work really hard at feeding so they give up or fall asleep a lot and it takes longer for feedings.
Signs Baby Tongue & Lip Tie: Mother’s Signs:
Low/Excess Weight Gain Painful Feeding
Unsatisfied Baby Misshapen Nipples (compression mark & painful)
Colic/Gassy Breast Pain
Reflux Low Milk Supply
Genetic play a role in restricted frenulum. Make sure you evaluate your spouse and other children for any restriction. Check out my page here for more information about how this affects facial growth and development in children and adults.
Important to note, when the tongue is restricted it affects more then just eating. A restricted tongue sits low in the mouth. Mouth Breathers have altered facial development and more likely to have Sleep Disorder Breathing. As children with restricted tongue continue improper swallowing, chewing, speaking habits due to physical limitations their body will be affected with poor digestion, poor posture, disrupted sleep, bed wetting until late childhood. Contact me for your FREE 30 Minute Assessment to see if I can help you and your family!