Having a child today is a daunting task! While many parents have thought about important details like baby names, vaccines/vaccine schedules, safe baby products, etc., there are many decisions that a parent might never even consider they would have to make.
We know, both in our hearts and through research, the way God designed babies to be fed (via breastfeeding) is what is best for their growth and development. However, that brings a lot of pressure to breastfeed, which unfortunately doesn’t always come naturally to new mothers. Sucking from a bottle is relatively easy for babies to do, but to breastfeed, infants must learn to use their tongues to extract milk. When it doesn’t ‘just work’, parents are increasingly looking for reasons why, and what they can do to solve it. A common culprit these days is a diagnosed tongue-tie, with the recommended solution being a frenectomy, or tongue-tie revision surgery.
The frenectomy has exploded in popularity in the last 10 years, and some lactation consultants and dentists pitch laser surgery to anxious and exhausted mothers as a cure-all that will improve breastfeeding and prevent a litany of health problems, including sleep apnea, speech impediments, and constipation (a very similar list to things chiropractic claim adjustments can help with).
While tongue-ties can cause nursing issues, a revision is not needed for all babies, and creates another stressful decision for parents.
If you are one of those parents, unfortunately, I cannot help you make that decision! God created YOU to be the parent of your child. My role, however, is to help educate you on options and, if you choose to get the procedure, how to make it the most effective.
Chiropractic and Frenectomies
Birth is a traumatic process that often results in misalignment of the neck and spine, which can create tension that prevents babies from nursing comfortably. My first recommendation for parents is to get your newborn checked by a chiropractor for asymmetries, especially in the upper neck, within their first month of being born.
If your baby is adjusted and continues to have issues with nursing, my second recommendation would be speaking with a pediatric dentist. Many of the pediatric dentists and ENTs that perform tongue-tie revision surgeries are now recommending that babies and kids get adjusted before and after the procedure. Prior to the surgery, tension in the head and neck can make it difficult to diagnose the degree of restriction. After surgery, the structure of the head and neck has changed due to a muscular attachment being altered. Being evaluated and treated by a chiropractor for spinal alignment ensures no new restriction or adaptations are made as a result.
Sometimes there is no right or wrong answer for tongue-tie revision but if your child is going to have it done, make sure to include us in the process, as we can help make the procedure as effective as possible and help your child grow and develop to their fullest potential!
