Contents:
- Medical Video: A Breastfeeding Problem: Many Mom's Give Up
- What is that tongue tie?
- Why tongue tie can complicate breastfeeding?
- How to find out if my baby has a condition tongue tie?
- How to deal with conditions tongue tie in babies?
- Medical measures to overcome tongue tie
- 1. Frenulotomy
- 2. Frenuloplasty
Medical Video: A Breastfeeding Problem: Many Mom's Give Up
Successful breastfeeding is usually influenced by various factors, both in terms of mother, baby, and support from the surrounding environment. In terms of the baby, one of the factors that can inhibit the success of breastfeeding is a condition called tongue tie.
What is that tongue tie?
Tongue tie is a congenital abnormality in the tongue. Normal tongue has a long connective tissue that connects the lower part of the tongue and floor of the mouth. In conditions tongue tiethe connective tissue is short, so the movement of the tongue and mouth is limited. Condition tongue tie this usually decreases in family members, more often found in male babies than baby girls.
Why tongue tie can complicate breastfeeding?
The breastfeeding process can work well if the position of the baby's mouth attaches to the mother's breast properly. In the right attachment, the entire baby's mouth will cover the entire areola and part of the mother's breast, and the baby's tongue will be under the nipple, restricting the mother's nipple and baby's gums. In conditions tongue tie, the baby cannot open his mouth wide and cannot place the tongue under the mother's nipple (because the mouth and tongue movements are limited), so the attachment of the baby to the mother's breast is often released and nothing protects the nipple from the baby's gums. As a result there is often an injury to the mother's nipple (wound, ulcer, bleeding).
From the side of the baby, maintaining a position to be able to continue to attach to the mother's breast is also tiring. Because it is tiring, as a result the baby can only suckle intermittently. Because they only suckle for a while, the baby will quickly starve again, so the frequency of feeding will be more frequent. Mothers will find it increasingly difficult to find rest periods between breastfeeding times. In addition, nipple pain that is felt by the mother every time breastfeeding can change the time of breastfeeding which should be time bonding time and happiness between mother and child becomes a time of torture. Because the breastfeeding process is not optimal, the nutritional needs of the baby with the condition tongue tie often not fulfilled, as a result the baby's growth was disrupted.
How to find out if my baby has a condition tongue tie?
Condition tongue tie can be seen by physical examination. The tip of the tongue should be able to reach the lips, touch the palate, and comb the gums. Babies with conditions tongue tie sometimes it can't stick out the tongue over the lower lip, the tip of the baby's tongue sometimes buds like a heart. Even on severe tongue conditions, sometimes the baby cannot lift the tongue past the lower gum.
How to deal with conditions tongue tie in babies?
At present there are still debates among experts regarding the handling of tongue tie. There are experts who argue that all conditions tongue tie must be followed up immediately, but on the other hand there are also experts who prefer to wait while watching.
The main consideration for determining whether or not action is needed is to assess how well the tongue is functioning. If the tongue seems to tighten but the baby can still suck the milk properly, swallow ASI without difficulty, normal weight growth, and the mother is not in pain, maybe no further action is needed. If the tongue does not appear to tighten but the baby has difficulty feeding, difficulty swallowing milk, or the mother is always in pain while breastfeeding, further action may need to be done. Consult these considerations with your pediatrician or lactation consultant before deciding on an action.
Medical measures to overcome tongue tie
There are two types of actions to overcome tongue tie, namely frenulotomy and frenuloplasty.
1. Frenulotomy
The act of cutting the connective tissue of the tongue that is not accompanied by stitches. Can be done since a newborn baby. Can be done without anesthesia or under local anesthesia in an ordinary doctor's office. As soon as the doctor cuts the connective tissue of the baby's tongue, the baby is immediately given to the mother for breastfeeding. Pressure on the baby's tongue during feeding will help stop bleeding in the incision wound. Usually the mother can immediately feel the improvement of the breastfeeding process becomes more comfortable.
2. Frenuloplasty
The act of cutting the connective tissue of the tongue followed by the sewing process. This action is chosen if the tongue connective tissue that has to be cut is too large for action frenotomy. Frenuloplasty must be performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. Seams are needed to cover the cuts in the tissue.
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