Breastfeeding and Baby's Tongue

If you go to the mirror and look under your tongue, you'll likely see a band of tissue in the middle - that's your lingual frenulum! If your tongue can do gymnastics, you've probably never thought about it. If your tongue barely lifts up or the band of tissue pulls your tongue into a heart shape, you might have ankyloglossia or a "tongue tie." 

In order to breastfeed, babies need to use their tongue to create a vacuum at the breast. The tongue also needs to extend to reach enough of the breast. For tongue-tied babies that are unable to latch, create the vacuum or adequately connect to the breast, the ankyloglossia might be causing problems:

* nipple pain in mom

* poor latch

* poor weight gain in the baby

What about other problems? Milk that doesn't come in? Or low supply down the road? Or problems with baby's weight gain? Or breast pain? Or mastitis? It is important to remember that tongue ties are not the root of every breastfeeding problem. Other breastfeeding difficulties might be related to mom's medication and personal medical history. Or perhaps she is misusing her pump.

In August 2024, the American Academy of Pediatrics released: Identification and Management of Ankyloglossia and Its Effect on Breastfeeding in Infants: Clinical Report.

Your pediatrician is your go-to when it comes to tongue ties. If there is suspicion, your baby will need a test weight with a skilled lactation provider. That's a visit to observe a feeding and see how a baby transfers milk from the breast. Mom's lactation history and assessment are very important as well. As the Clinical Report says, "...most breastfeeding difficulty is not related to symptomatic ankyloglossia." 

Woven Pediatrics offers tests weights for baby and mom is a patient too! There is no better place to find answers to breastfeeding problems!

Resource: Pediatrics (2024) 154 (2): e2024067605.