Tongue-tie is known as ankyloglossia. An unusually tight band of tissue anchoring the tongue to the floor of the mouth leads to this issue. This can create hindrances in the normal functions of a baby’s tongue. Gradually, it results in several problems like breastfeeding issues, dental, speech, and airway issues later on.
Tongue ties are one of the most common issues in infants. Many mothers and their babies suffer and experience a frustrating breastfeeding relationship due to this issue. Certain signs and symptoms help you identify if your baby has this problem.
Signs and Symptoms of Tounge-tie
Below are some of the major signs and symptoms of tongue-tie in infants. Consider consulting with a professional solving pediatric tongue-tie in San Antonio if you see any of these signs.
Breastfeeding Hurts
Breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt. If it does, something may be wrong. Sometimes, a baby may face a simple latch issue. However, if the baby is facing difficulty latching continuously, he might have a tongue-tie or lip-tie problem. These problems often go hand in hand.
Is it problematic for your baby to flange his upper lip over the breast? If yes, this is a sign of a lip-lie. Moreover, it can be an indicator that your baby tends to get tongue-tie issues.
Cracked and Bleeding Nipples
If your baby’s tongue cannot draw the breast tissue into the baby’s soft palate, he can have a tongue-tie. It can lead to nipple damage in the mother from rubbing on the hard palate. Using the ‘breast sandwich’ technique (Tongue-Tieque) and good positioning can significantly help with this some of the time.
Frustration at the Breast
When a baby has a tongue-tie, he often gets frustrated at the breast. Moreover, he may break the latch frequently. This is because he cannot transfer milk efficiently.
Misshapen Nipples
Often, after feeding the baby, the mother’s nipples will have a crease on the end or look like the tip of a lipstick bullet.
Too Much Suction
Tongue-tie can make a tongue dysfunctional. When this takes place, a baby will often attempt to compensate for this by sucking harder. If the baby does this excess vacuum, it can be exhausting for him. In addition, it can be uncomfortable for the mother.
It is to be stated that a normal “suck” is more like a wave motion of the tongue than a suck.
Clicking Sounds While Nursing
With this issue, the baby often cannot form a proper seal around the breast. This leads to clicking sounds as suction breaks repeatedly.
A Sensitive Gag Reflex
The palate of the baby does not receive a normal amount of stimulation if the tongue is tethered too tightly to the mouth’s floor. It can cause an overly sensitive gag reflex.
Poor Weight Gain
A tongue-tied baby can struggle to gain weight when the mother does not have a strong milk letdown. Sometimes, a baby with this issue can still thrive and gin weight well if the mother has a good letdown. However, the baby may undergo other non-weight-related symptoms.
Contact our professionals if you are concerned about whether your baby has this issue. Having years of experience and expertise, we can help you solve your questions and concerns. Call us now.
