Tongue tie, lip tie, or other oral tethers

Oral ties, also referred to as oral tethers or restrictions, are a common, but often misunderstood and under recognized cause of breastfeeding challenges. When the tongue, lips, and/or cheeks are unable to move properly and have full range of motion during feeding, a baby will struggle to feed functionally and instead, use keep compensations in an effort to remove milk from the breast. As this process results in oral dysfunction, a baby with oral restrictions may have some of the following symptoms: unable to latch or maintain a latch, chomping or biting at the breast, choking or sputtering on milk, clicking noise while feeding, frustrated or fussy at the breast, falls asleep quickly at the breast, very frequent feeds, feeds that last a significant amount of time, struggle to accept a bottle, and gassiness, reflux, or being generally unsettled.

As the breastfeeding relationship involves two people, the parent of a tied baby may struggle with some of the following issues:

• Nipple or breast pain during or after feedings

• Misshapen nipple or nipple color changes after breastfeeds

• Nipple damage

• Low milk supply

• Oversupply of milk

• Recurrent plugged ducts, blebs, or mastitis

• and struggle with meeting the needs of an infant who has intense needs.

As this list is not exhaustive and the symptoms of every breastfeeding dyad is variable, it is important to have a consultation where a full, functional feeding examination is undertaken in conjunction with an assessment of milk supply and an examination of baby’s overall structure and function, and a deep dive into baby’s oral anatomy and function. When you book a consultation with me for an assessment of possible oral restrictions, you rest assured that I have hundreds of advanced-level training hours in oral function/dysfunction and restrictions and specialize in oral habilitation pre and post-release.