Breastfeeding

Continued Difficulties Post Release

Oral Function (Feeding) Therapy will increase successful breastfeeding and ensure that your baby obtains adequate nutrition for growth and development.

Missing Link

You have recently brought your baby for a tongue and/or lip tie release. Everything went well and the release provider said that your baby has good mobility. Ok-great. Then why are we continuing to have difficulty successfully breastfeeding and why does it still hurt? Everyone made me feel like this would be it. Have the release and all will be well! But.. It is not! What am I missing?

What is The Problem?

It is often thought that addressing tongue and lip tie is as simple as having the procedure. And that once that release is completed, your baby will suddenly change the way that he or she breastfeeds, all of the problems will resolve. Unfortunately, for many babies, having the release is just the beginning.

Why Continued Difficulties?

Well first of all, despite what many say, the release is not a magic fix. Our tongue is formed early in gestation and when a baby has a restricted frenulum (tongue tie) the baby’s tongue movements are restricted. Accessory muscles and their patterns are changed and the infant swallows amniotic f luid for months using restricted tongue patterns. Because of the tongue restriction, babies develop compensatory patterns. A frequent compensatory pattern is when a baby uses too much compression. This common compensatory pattern results in the baby biting and not sucking. When this happens, baby is using the jaw because the tongue is not working.

Passive Range Of Motion

When a baby has a release, the release provides the baby with passive range of motion. Ok so what does that mean? Range of motion is the amount of movement you have. Range of motion can be passive or active, and they can be very different. Passive range of motion involves someone moving the structure (tongue or lip for this purpose) Active range of motion means that the baby is actively using the range of motion.

Reasons for Continued Difficulties

A baby will continue to have feeding difficulties after a release because the baby is not activating or using the range of motion provided by the release. Many babies do not have the strength or endurance to maintain the range of motion necessary for successful feeding. Babies may also not realize that they have the range of motion or they may not know how to use the new range of motion. Many infants do not automatically use the new movement patterns because of the compensatory patterns they developed in utero. If the baby’s compensatory techniques are not addressed and ineffective patterns are not changed, feeding difficulties will continue.

What is Oral Function Therapy?

Oral function therapy is indicated for a baby with a release, when appropriate passive range of motion is not translating into functional movements. Your therapist will develop correct strong oral function skills to enable successful painless feeding. You will also learn exercises that you can use with your baby. If your having difficulty, get help now!