KUALA LUMPUR, July 10: A baby’s cries during breastfeeding are not always the result of incorrect feeding techniques.
In some cases, they may signal tongue-tie, a condition that restricts the baby’s tongue movement and can make breastfeeding difficult.
In such cases, it is hard for the baby to latch deeply, extract milk efficiently, or sustain suction, which can lead to painful, damaged nipples for the mother.
That was what Iman Nadzirah Sulaiman experienced after giving birth to her first child, when every breastfeeding session became a painful ordeal for her due to a sharp, stabbing sensation in her nipples.
For a month, Iman Nadzirah believed the problem stemmed from her own inexperience with breastfeeding, until she noticed her baby struggled to move the tongue properly and was unable to reach the roof of the mouth. She then sought medical advice.
“After examining my baby, the doctor explained that the problem wasn’t caused by poor breastfeeding technique. Instead, my baby was diagnosed with tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, a condition that restricts tongue movement and can interfere with breastfeeding.
“Following the diagnosis and on my doctor’s advice, I decided to proceed with a laser tongue-tie release procedure for my baby,” she told Bernama.
Iman Nadzirah said her baby can now breastfeed comfortably, while she is finally able to nurse without pain.
Tongue-tie is not uncommon. Consultant paediatrician and neonatologist Dr Chan Pei Sing of Sunway Medical Centre Velocity said between four and 10 per cent of newborns are born with the condition.
She said tongue-tie occurs when the lingual frenulum — the band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth — is unusually short, thick or tight, restricting the tongue’s movement.
“Limited tongue movement prevents babies from latching properly during breastfeeding. This makes feeding less effective, which may result in inadequate milk intake while causing mothers to experience sore nipples, or even mastitis (swelling of breasts),” she said.
However, Dr Chan stressed that tongue-tie is not the only cause of breastfeeding difficulties, as poor breastfeeding techniques and other factors may also contribute.
“One of the telltale signs of tongue-tie is a heart-shaped tongue when the baby sticks it out,” she added.
According to Dr Chan, the exact cause of tongue-tie remains unclear, although evidence suggests genetics may play a role as the condition sometimes occurs within the same family.
She also said parents should not blame themselves, as the condition is unrelated to diet or prenatal care during pregnancy. Tongue-tie is also reported more frequently in boys than in girls.
On treatment, Dr Chan said not every case requires surgery, even though tongue-tie does not disappear on its own. As children grow, the tissue may lengthen naturally, reducing the restriction.
“Tongue-tie release is generally a minor procedure that can be performed at the bedside by a paediatrician or an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist without the need for an operating theatre (if still an infant),” she said.
For children aged more than six months and adults, she said the procedure can still be performed if tongue-tie significantly affects daily life, although further assessment by an ENT specialist is required.
“Most tongue-tie release procedures are carried out during infancy to help improve breastfeeding.
“However, the procedure does not guarantee that a child will not develop speech problems later in life. Likewise, babies who do not undergo the procedure will not necessarily have speech difficulties as tongue-tie is only one of several factors that may influence speech development,” she said.
— BERNAMA