Tongue tie in Seattle is more formally known as ankyloglossia. It is a common condition in which the frenulum, the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is abnormally short and thick. The tongue thus can’t move properly, and the baby has trouble nursing.
How Is Tongue Tie Treated?
The doctor will perform a procedure called a frenotomy in which they simply clip the frenulum so the infant can move their tongue normally. A frenotomy is quick and painless for the frenulum has few nerve endings. As it also has few blood vessels, bleeding is minimal.
The doctor can perform the frenotomy in their office, and they will need just a pair of sterile scissors. The patient will be given a local anesthetic – assuming they need anesthesia at all. The baby will be able to breastfeed right after the procedure.
What Other Breastfeeding Problems Can Be Treated?
Craniosacral therapy can help infants that don’t have tongue tie but still have trouble suckling. There are also a variety of therapies that help women increase their milk production. Examples include acupuncture, herbs, nutritional counseling, and homeopathic remedies.
What Is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral therapy or CST is a non-invasive treatment in which the therapist will gently touch skull bones to affect the flow of the fluid moving around the spinal cord and through the vein. It was originally developed in the 70s to relieve pain and help the soft tissues surrounding the central nervous system work properly.
Craniosacral therapy can be used to treat birth injuries caused by the baby’s passage through the birth canal. During birth, a child’s skull is compressed. Normally, the skull bones gradually shift back into their proper places. Sometimes, however, they don’t, and the patient will need CST to prevent problems.
