Tongue tie/lip ties affect considerable number of infants and children. It is perhaps interesting that such a seemingly simple condition can cause such controversy and diversity of opinions. However, it is important that accurate information and guidance is given to parents with regard to the indications and potential benefits of tongue/lip tie division, and that appropriate provisions are in place for those infants that require division. Health professionals including nurses, physicians and lactation consultants irrespective of their professional and personal views, should be in a position to inform and direct mothers appropriately when the issue of tongue / lip tie division arises in the early days after birth. Increasingly, patients are …show more content…
Tongue/lip ties usually present within the first week after birth, however its effect on feeding is difficult to ascertain. If assessment indicates that tongue/lip tie is the causative factor, the dilemma is whether to adopt the ‘wait and watch’ approach. Sometimes, if one waits, the problem resolves spontaneously. The current evidence for frenotomy is also complicated by the placebo effect, which is difficult to quantify. The most important unanswered questions in all the studies is whether the division of tongue/lip tie extends the duration of breastfeeding, as in most of the studies the control group was offered frenotomy within few days. The evidence predominantly suggests a subjective maternal improvement in breastfeeding in infants with difficulty in breastfeeding attributable to tongue/lip tie. Complications of frenotomy are rare, but it is important that a trained professional who is able to control any bleeding should perform the procedure. However, the use of complementary and alternative therapy cannot be recommended due to lack of