Why Is My Baby Having Trouble Breastfeeding? The Hidden Cause: Tongue Tie

You've just held your baby, everything seems fine, but are breastfeeding sessions turning into a nightmare? Is your baby unable to grasp anything, frequently letting go, or is breastfeeding very painful? The problem may not be with your milk supply or your baby's appetite. The problem may lie in a small tissue hidden under the tongue, called a tongue tie.

Ankyloglossia, commonly known as "tongue tie," is a condition where the frenulum, the ligament under the tongue, is shorter or thicker than normal. So, what does this cause, and when should it be treated?

How Do I Know If My Baby Has a Tongue Tie?

It can be difficult to detect a tongue tie, especially in newborns. However, the following signs tell us "there's a problem":

Breastfeeding Problems (The Most Important Symptom): The baby cannot grasp and vacuum the breast with their tongue. They constantly make a "click-click" sound while breastfeeding, frequently let go of the breast, tire easily, and gain weight slowly.

**Nipple Soreness in the Mother:** Because the baby cannot grasp with its tongue, it crushes the breast with its gums/palate. This causes severe pain and cracked nipples in the mother.

**Tongue Shape:** When the baby cries or is released, the tip of the tongue collapses inward, forming a "heart shape" instead of a "V" shape.

**Restricted Movement:** The baby cannot touch its upper palate or lips with its tongue.

**Does Tongue Tie Hinder Speech Development? The "Lisping" Myth**

The biggest fear of dimensions: "Will my child speak late?"

Clarify this: Tongue tie does not delay the onset of development. In other words, the transitional speech between speech stages is not caused by tongue tie.

HOWEVER; because it restricts certain movements of the tongue, it can cause difficulty or lisping in the pronunciation of some letters (R, L, S, Z, T, D). The child might say "Bear" instead of "Bear." This is a situation that can increase social impairment.

** Treatment: Frenotomy (Cutting the Tongue Tie)

If the tongue tie is disrupting feeding (sucking) or is too short to pose a risk of future speech disorders, there's no point in waiting.

The procedure is quite different than commonly believed:

In newborns: Often, anesthesia isn't even necessary; the tie is cut with scissors in seconds in an outpatient setting. There is almost no bleeding. The baby can immediately breastfeed, and relief is noticeable.

In older children: Because children are more active, it's safer to perform the procedure under very mild sedation or short-term anesthesia.

When should you see a pediatric ENT specialist for tongue tie treatment?

If you experience pain during breastfeeding, if your baby isn't getting enough to eat despite lacking breast tissue, or if your child has difficulty pronouncing certain letters, you should definitely consult a pediatric ENT specialist.

At our clinic in Ankara, we determine the most suitable and effective method according to the type of tongue tie (anterior or posterior tongue tie), restoring both registered care and peace of mind for the family.