As a parent, it’s tough when your baby is fussy, gassy, or dealing with reflux, especially when you are not sure what’s causing it. One possible reason could be tongue tie. It can lead to breastfeeding struggles, gas, reflux, and even colic.
But can tongue tie even cause gas? If you think your baby might have it, there’s plenty of help available. Let’s go over how tongue tie can impact your baby’s digestion and its symptoms. We will offer tips to manage these challenges with hope and support!
What is a Tongue Tie?
Tongue tie develops when the frenulum, the tissue that connects the base of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is excessively short or tight. This condition can limit the movement of the tongue, which can cause problems during breastfeeding and even later in life.
Can Tongue Tie Cause Gas and Digestive Issues?
Yes, tongue tie can add to digestive problems in babies, including excessive gas and reflux. The connection between tongue tie and these issues arises from the way babies feed.
How does a Tongue Tie Affect Feeding?
A tongue knot could affect a baby’s ability to latch onto the breast or bottle. The baby may swallow air while feeding if the latch is not strong enough. This swallowed air can cause gas in the stomach and leads to discomfort, bloating, and excessive burping.
The baby may also struggle to empty the stomach, which can contribute to reflux completely.
Tongue Tie and Reflux
Reflux is when stomach contents run back into the esophagus, causing discomfort. Babies with tongue tie may struggle to eat properly, resulting in delayed or incomplete digestion.
This can result in the milk being pushed back up into the oesophagus, leading to acid reflux or spitting up after feedings. So, a tongue tie can indirectly cause reflux by affecting the feeding process.
Tongue Tie and Colic
Colic is a disorder in which babies cry excessively and are fussy. While the exact aetiology of colic is uncertain, some studies believe it is related to gas and intestinal distress.
Babies with tongue tie may experience more gas due to inefficient feeding. It may lead to discomfort and potentially contribute to colic symptoms.
Can Tongue Tie Cause Choking in Babies?
Yes, tongue tie can increase the risk of choking, although it is not the primary cause of choking in babies. Here’s how:
i- Poor latch
An infant witha tongue tie may fail to latch correctly when nursing or bottle feeding. This can lead to improper sucking and swallowing.
In some cases, the baby may swallow too much milk too quickly or not have a strong enough suck to clear the milk effectively, which can increase the risk of choking.
ii- Breastfeeding difficulties
Babies with a tongue tie may not be able to control the flow of milk fully. It may cause them to gag or choke more frequently. The milk can pool in the back of the throat if not swallowed properly.
Can Tongue Tie Affect Tummy Time?
Tummy time is essential for babies to develop their muscles and coordination, especially in the neck, shoulders, and arms. If a baby has tongue tie, they may avoid tummy time due to difficulty with feeding and possible discomfort.
The muscle tension associated with tongue tie can also affect the baby’s ability to lift their head and support their body during tummy time.
Tip for Parents:
If your baby struggles with tummy time, make sure they are comfortable and try introducing short, frequent tummy time sessions. If your baby is reluctant to lie on their tummy, it could be due to discomfort from gas or reflux related to tongue tie.
5 Tips for Managing Tongue Tie Symptoms
If your baby has tongue tie, you are probably wondering how to make feeding easier and help them feel more comfortable. Here are some simple steps you can take:
1. Get Expert Help
Start by talking to a professional, like a lactation consultant, paediatrician, or oral therapist. They can check how severe the tongue tie is and guide you on the best next steps.
2. Try Different Feeding Positions
Sometimes, the way you hold your baby while breastfeeding can make a big difference.
Experiment with several positions, such as the football hold or relaxed breastfeeding, to see which works best. These positions might help your baby latch better and feed more comfortably.
3. Use a Special Bottle for Bottle-Feeding
If your baby is bottle-fed, try using bottles with slow-flow nipples. These are designed to let milk flow more slowly, so your baby doesn’t swallow too much air while feeding. Less air means less gas and discomfort for your little one.
Read More: Signs Your Breast Milk Supply is Decreasing
4. Do Gentle Tongue Exercises and Massage
If you’re not ready to go for a procedure to fix the tongue tie, you can try simple exercises to improve your baby’s tongue movement.
For example, gently massage under your baby’s tongue or encourage them to move their tongue around. A pediatrician or therapist can show you easy techniques to help.
5. Watch for Signs of Discomfort
Pay close attention to how your baby behaves during and after feeding. Are they crying a lot, spitting up, or looking bloated and uncomfortable? These could be signs that feeding isn’t going smoothly due to tongue tie.
Ready to Get Help for Tongue Tie?
If you are concerned about your baby’s feeding difficulties, discomfort, or any of the symptoms related to tongue tie, don’t hesitate to seek help.
At Tongue Tie Phoenix, our experienced lactation consultants are here to guide you through the process.
Get in touch today and get the expert help you need!
People Also Ask
1. Can Tongue Tie Cause Excessive Gas?
A poor latch may lead to the baby swallowing air while feeding, which can cause discomfort, bloating, and excessive gas.
2. Can Tongue Tie Cause Digestive Issues?
Babies with tongue tie may swallow air while feeding, which can cause gas, reflux, and other digestive issues like discomfort and spitting up.
3. Why Does Tongue Tie Cause Colic?
Colic in babies is often linked to digestive discomfort, and tongue tie can contribute to this. Babies with tongue tie may struggle to feed properly, which can result in excess gas in the stomach.
4. Does Tongue Tie Affect Tummy Time?
Yes, tongue tie can impact tummy time. Babies with tongue tie may experience discomfort while feeding, which can make them more reluctant to lie on their tummy. This can affect their development of neck and shoulder muscles, making tummy time more challenging.
