Tongue-Tie and Lip-Tie

We have worked with dozens of babies with tongue-tie and lip-ties. We have learned it is important to go by what a baby can do (functional assessment) rather than what it looks like (visual assessment). If you have a family history of tongue and/or lip-tie, your baby may be more likely to have the same condition. Sometimes tongue and lip-ties affect breastfeeding, and sometimes they don’t. Here is a tongue-and lip-tie article that may help you understand this topic more fully. We have to watch closely over the first few days to see what your baby can do. We give close attention to positioning and try adjusting the baby’s latch before recommending a tongue or lip-tie revision. The sooner that tongue and lip ties are identified as interfering with breastfeeding and treated usually means better outcomes. In Kodiak, some providers are comfortable releasing tongue-ties, but if your baby has a lip-tie that interferes with latching, you will need to travel to Anchorage for treatment. Please contact us if you have questions!