Frenectomy & Your Child

You are so excited to see your new baby born, and you should be. But then you find she is fussy and can’t seem to latch on to the breast correctly. She has gas and stomach pains after feeding. What is the problem? You’ve removed certain foods from your diet that you were told might cause a problem.  Still something isn’t quite right. Finally, in despair, you consult a lactation consultant or your physician to learn your child has a thicker than normal piece of skin under the tongue or the upper lip. This is commonly called being lip-tied or tongue-tied depending upon where the excess tissue is found.

Not only does this condition impact how your baby feeds, especially if you are a nursing mom, but it can also create challenges in the future in their speech.

And it isn’t only the baby who suffers. Babies who have a maxillary frenum may be unable to move the tongue into the correct location to eat correctly. While an improper latch may not seem important at first, it can cause your child discomfort and lead you to be sore as well. Untreated, a lip or tongue-tied breastfeeding child can cause damage to the nipples and breasts that may eventually lead to an infection.

Midwives used to snip a baby’s excess tissue or frenum using their sharp fingernail however, there are much better ways to handle this condition today. Dr. Strutz and her team are able to use a specialized laser that takes this procedure and makes it simple. “The first step is to come in for an exam,” says Dr. Judith Strutz. Once the exam is completed, if appropriate, Dr. Strutz will be able to perform the procedure in a short amount of time.

After your baby’s procedure is finished you will receive some simple after-care instructions. And best of all, most babies are able to eat immediately after the procedure.

Don’t be frustrated another day. Babies as young as a day or two have had the procedure and parents have seen immediate results. Call today to learn if you and your child can be helped by Dr. Strutz and her team.