Breastfeeding Difficulties: Signs Your Baby Has a Lip or Tongue-Tie

A lip and/or tongue-tie in Phillipsburg is not uncommon among infants and young children. In fact, physicians have been performing frenectomies to release these thick bands of tissues for centuries. However, changes in the way women chose to feed their babies caused the regular occurrence of the procedure to decline. Now with more women choosing to return to breastfeeding, many are seeking professional help when signs point to a lip or tongue-tie. Read on to find out what symptoms you should watch for that might dictate whether your baby needs a frenectomy to ensure complete oral function.   

Why Frenectomies are Becoming More Popular

It is not uncommon for a baby to be born with a lip or tongue-tie. If the band of tissue located underneath the tongue or behind the upper lip is not restricted, there will likely be no issues when it comes to breastfeeding, speaking, or even sleeping. However, for infants with bands that are thick and make it more difficult to move the lip or tongue freely, this is when problems can develop.

For centuries, doctors and even midwives performed frenectomies to allow a baby to successfully latch when nursing; however, as bottle-feeding became more popular, many women turned to this trusted alternative. The truth is that breastfeeding was viewed as inferior, and tongue-ties were just one of the many reasons women were encouraged to forgo natural methods and instead, opt for the bottle.

As most trends do, breastfeeding has re-emerged as the preferred way to feed a baby with many women opting to forgo the bottle until the child is older. As a result, dentists and physicians are seeing a rise in the number of frenectomies performed simply because the issues surrounding lip and tongue-ties, and breastfeeding are occurring more frequently.

Breastfeeding Signs to Watch For

If you are a mother who is breastfeeding and begin to notice that you are developing any of the following signs, it’s time to consider how a local lip and tongue-tie specialist can help you and your baby:

• Latching issues in Phillipsburg
• Feeling depressed because of the difficulties you face when trying to breastfeed
• Difficulty getting your milk to flow successfully
• Swollen, red, and damaged nipples
• Developing blocked ducts or mastitis
• Increased pain while attempting to breastfeed
• Prolonged feedings resulting in a lack of or interrupted sleep

When you begin to notice these symptoms, don’t wait to seek treatment. A specialist can help improve the breastfeeding experience by safely treating your child’s lip or tongue-tie.

About the Author
Dr. N. Garcia-DeMartino is a lip and tongue-tie specialist based in Phillipsburg, NJ. Graduating summa cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1983, she went on to enroll in the university’s dental school, graduating with her DMD in 1987. Seeing a common trend of lip and tongue-ties developing and parents struggling, she underwent necessary training to begin treating these problems. Attending the International World Clinical Laser Institute, she became an expert in the use of soft tissue and hard tissue lasers. Now, she proudly helps parents and treats young patients suffering from the effects of a lip or tongue-tie. If you are experiencing difficulties breastfeeding, visit our website or call (908) 859-5260.