What to Expect During a Tongue Tie Division Appointment

What to Expect During Your Appointment

During your consultation we will discuss your baby's feeding and any concerns you may have. It’s important your baby is a little hungry and receptive during the consultation, therefore I kindly ask that you avoid feeding them for at least a half hour before the appointment.

Please have your baby's red book, a large blanket or muslin to wrap them in, and, if your baby is bottle fed or receiving top up feeds, please have expressed breast milk or the formula you typically use ready.

During the consultation, I will take a thorough medical history for both you and your baby, including birth and feeding history. Following this, I will evaluate the tongue function and mobility and discuss my findings with you.

If I determine that a tongue tie division would be appropriate, I will explain the potential outcomes and risks of the procedure in detail. This will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. There is absolutely no obligation to proceed with the procedure, and I encourage parents to take the time to consider and research the decision if needed.

If you decide to proceed, I will gently swaddle your baby in a blanket or muslin and place them under a bright light. If I have an assistant present, they will support your baby's head. If I am working alone, I will kindly ask you or your partner to hold your baby’s head.

The procedure itself is straightforward. I will lift the baby’s tongue using my index finger to expose the frenulum (the tongue tie), and then I will carefully divide it using sterile, single-use, blunt tipped scissors. This process typically takes only a few seconds, and most babies experience only a brief cry before calming down to feed. Older babies may cry longer.

Once the tongue tie is fully divided, I will place a piece of gauze under your baby’s tongue and hand them back to you for feeding. Babies usually latch on quickly, and the light bleeding that may occur typically stops as soon as your baby starts feeding.

I will observe your baby while they feed and offer support as needed. Additionally, I will guide you through simple, gentle tongue exercises to encourage healing and improve feeding. If needed, we will explore potential strategies to improve feeding, which may include adjustments to positioning and attachment, supporting milk supply, or oral and sucking skills. These approaches may be recommended in place of, or in addition to, tongue tie division, depending on what is most suitable for your baby’s needs.

I will remain with you until we are certain that any bleeding has fully stopped.

Please know that I am here to support you and your baby throughout the process, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have at any point.

If you wish to book an appointment with me you can do so here.