You have read all the articles, paid close attention and you think your baby may have a tongue or lip tie. What comes next?
The first step is to get a diagnosis from a provider who is well educated and experienced in oral ties. You can start with a lactation professional; although they will not be able to give you a diagnosis (unless they have other credentials), they can assess your baby feeding and refer you to a provider, or help support you if the issue is not a restriction. An oral care expert or a pediatric dentist can give you a diagnosis and perform the revision or “clipping” of the tie.
How do you find a tie-savvy provider?
Your local lactation professionals are a great place to start. They often work closely with these providers and will know the best ones near you. Asking other parents in your area is another option, especially those that have personal experience. You can also search this list of providers considered “preferred” by The Tongue and Lip Tie Support Network. The list is not inclusive of all skilled providers, but it is a great reference tool. No matter where you find your provider, it is important to ask them questions like how often they do revisions, how they plan to do the revision, do they allow you to be in the room with your baby and what they suggest for aftercare. All of this information will help you decide which provider is best for you.
Laser vs. Scissor, does it really matter?
The short answer is no, it really doesn’t matter. The skill and experience of your provider is much more important. There are benefits to both options: with laser, there is less bleeding, with scissors it is a quicker procedure. Ultimately you want to find a provider you trust, and they will be able to suggest what is best for your situation.
Aftercare – What to Expect
It is important to remember that it can be a team effort getting through a tongue or lip tie and the revision. Many providers suggest working with a lactation professional who is experienced with oral restrictions and bodywork specialist. A bodyworker is a professional who has a hands-on license to touch and extensive continuing education hours in CranioSacral therapy, Myofascial release, etc. A licensed professional may be an occupational, physical or speech therapist, chiropractor, osteopath, nurse, or massage therapist. Using all of these resources will help treat the issue as a whole, and not just fix one part of what may be going on.
Is it a “quick fix”?
Most of the time, your baby can nurse immediately after the procedure. And most parents report that there is a noticeable difference right away. A baby may have some discomfort the 1-2 days following the procedure. Your doctor will discuss the appropriate usage and dosage of pain medicine with you. You can also use frozen breast milk to help soothe baby’s mouth, and lots of skin to skin snuggles to help baby relax.
There may also be some situations where it seems like it gets worse before it gets better. Remember that your baby has learned to use his or her tongue and oral muscles with this restriction or tightness, so having a new range of motion can be strange and may take some time for your baby to get used to. Don’t give up if you don’t have an “immediate” fix. Work with your team, take it one day and one feeding at a time, and you will get there.
Many providers suggest doing special stretches after the procedure. These are gentle, and the point is not to stretch out the wound, or cause pain, but to ensure that the wound heals properly and doesn’t reattach. They are simple and should only take a few seconds out of the days following the procedure. Your doctor may give you specific instructions, but this a great article from Dr. Ghaheri (a known breastfeeding supportive ENT) that shows an example of aftercare.
Tongue and lip tie revisions don’t have to be scary.
As a parent, you want to keep your baby safe and out of harm’s way, and a procedure like this can be nerve-racking. Be sure to go in with a plan, and have a provider and support team you trust to get you through it. Ending your feeding struggles will be well worth it!
Related Posts:
https://kiinde.com/signs-of-a-tongue-or-lip-tie/
Aryn
Aryn is a Certified Lactation Counselor on the Kiinde Lactation team. She is also a mother of two, writer, and maternal mental health advocate.
