Is Blepharoplasty Just Cosmetic?
Oct 15, 2025
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Published on
27/10/2025
The LivingCare Group
Every feeding story is different. Whether it’s your first, third or fifth baby, each one will be unique. While one baby may successfully latch on right just moments after birth, another may struggle to latch, cough, or choke during feeds, and wake up uncomfortable due to wind.
For some, tongue tie is evident from the moment the baby lets out its first cry, as the tongue is heart-shaped and immobile. For other families, it can be weeks of sore nipples, sleepless nights, and baby weight loss before a healthcare provider diagnoses it.
Feeding struggles are frustrating, tiring, and worrying. At LivingCare, we understand the feeding concerns that often accompany tongue tie. Read on to hear about the links between infant feeding and tongue tie.
In the early days of breastfeeding, some degree of pain or discomfort is normal as you both learn the new skill and your body gets used to the baby – it’s like wearing in a new pair of shoes. But if breastfeeding pain goes beyond the initial few days and weeks? Or the baby isn’t gaining weight or is struggling to latch and stay latched? It could be a sign of tongue-tie.
To breastfeed successfully, the baby needs to open their mouth wide and extend their tongue over their bottom lip. The tongue then needs to have enough movement to massage the breast and extract the milk.
A baby with significant tongue tie may be getting some milk, particularly if you’ve breastfed a previous baby, but they will not be feeding efficiently. It’s tough when you feel like all you do is feed a baby for long periods, but they aren’t gaining weight or remain unsatisfied.
The restrictive tongue mobility does more than impact the baby's wellbeing; the mother can also suffer beyond sore nipples. As the baby is unable to drain the breasts, it can lead to painful engorgement, low milk supply, blocked ducts, and mastitis. Prolonged and frequent feeds associated with tongue-tied babies are also very tiring. When you’re tired, in pain, and dealing with an illness, you could feel close to giving up on breastfeeding. In a study, over 20% of breastfeeding parents gave up due to tongue tie.1
For some babies with limited tongue mobility, adjusting their feeding positions and latch techniques can help them feed better. Others may benefit from a tongue-tie division to achieve a positive breastfeeding experience for both the mother and baby. In one study, 80% of breastfeeding parents reported improved feeding at 24 hours after the division.2
Getting to know your new baby is an exciting time. However, feeding struggles can quickly pop the baby bubble as you worry about their wellbeing, growth, and comfort. Bottle feeding babies who feed slowly, are constantly hungry, dribble and gag, suffer from wind and reflux, and don’t gain weight as expected could indicate tongue tie.
A baby with tongue tie can have a poor latch on the bottle. Without a tight seal around the teat, they’ll take in more air when feeding. This can cause hiccups, reflux, and wind. Dealing with a windy and refluxy baby can mean longer night feeds as you hold them upright after a bottle, extended winding sessions, and frustrating naps interrupted by hiccups.
And not every baby with a tongue tie needs treatment; some parents may find alternative ways to improve their baby's feeding from the bottle. Paced bottle-feeding techniques, which allow the baby to take breaks, may help alleviate symptoms and make feeding easier for some. A high palate, which often accompanies tongue tie, can trigger a baby's gag reflex. Bottle-feeding parents may find shorter or flatter teats easier for babies with tongue tie to use.
For babies with a significant tongue tie, a division may be the answer to some, if not all, of the feeding struggles. When your baby can freely move their tongue to create a good latch, you may say goodbye to reflux, wind, and slow, tiring feeds.
When your baby isn’t gaining weight as expected, is screaming in pain with wind, or is sick after every feed, you might feel like you’re doing something wrong. You’re not. It could simply be due to a strip of skin that is too short or too tight.
At LivingCare, we understand you’ll want to have your baby assessed and treated quickly to resolve feeding struggles. That’s why our tongue tie assessment appointments are available within seven days. You get quick access to feeding support and the best care. With prompt treatment, you could transform the early days with your baby.
