WHAT TO EXPECT?
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
At the booking stage, you will be asked for your and your baby’s details (ie feeding history/problems; baby’s date of birth; GP details; NHS number). Please note, your child must be under 6 months old and be fit and well for the procedure to be undertaken. They should also have had vitamin K.
Ensure you bring your baby’s health record (red book) to your appointment and a blanket or towel to swaddle your baby during the procedure. Please ensure you and your baby are prepared for either a breast or bottle feed immediately following the procedure. Clinic address details and a map can be found on the website. There is plenty of parking available.
DURING THE APPOINTMENT
When you arrive please give your name to the reception team. You will be greeted and taken to the treatment room for the consultation. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, at any point throughout the appointment. A full assessment of your baby’s feeding history, tongue function and appearance will be carried out. Following the assessment, should a tongue-tie division be required, the procedure will be explained to you in more detail. At this point you will be required to sign a consent form. Please note, not all babies with tongue-tie need an operation. In this case they can be advised and supported by the infant feeding specialist to get their feeding positioning correct.
No anaesthetic is needed, as the procedure is very quick and virtually painless. One of the INFANTTS breastfeeding team will hold your baby whilst the procedure is performed. They will hold your baby’s mouth open and lift up their tongue. Round-ended scissors will be used to make a small cut in the tongue-tie and then divide the tissue. A small piece of gauze will be used on the area to stop the small amount of blood. Baby will be given to mum for feeding immediately following the procedure.
AFTER TONGUE-TIE DIVISION
You will receive breastfeeding support and advice regarding positioning and latching whilst feeding (breastfeeding or bottle-feeding) your baby. We recommend that you seek on-going support and advice from your local breastfeeding group. Information about local breastfeeding support groups can be found on the ‘useful links’ page of this website. You can also contact your health visitor and midwife regarding local breastfeeding support groups.
At the end of your appointment you will be given a medical letter detailing all the necessary information, which should be given to your GP for their records. Information will also be recorded in your baby’s health record (red book).
We will give you a follow-up call approximately one week after the division to discuss how mum and baby are getting on.