Our feeding specialists and breastfeeding consultants assist and support women who desire to succeed in their breast- and bottle feeding experience by providing personalized attention tailored to each specific need using evidence-based information and expert guidance. These are the common reasons to seek support:
- Poor milk supply and/or limited weight gain
- Pain/discomfort during nursing
- Tethered oral tissues (aka tongue and lip ties)
- Baby getting tired and falling asleep at the breast
- Baby refusing to breastfeed
- Introducing bottles and planning to return to work
- Weaning and transition to solid food, etc.
Tethered oral tissues (TOTs), otherwise known as tongue/ lip/ buccal ties, affect appropriate movements of oral structures for adequate food management, swallowing, natural oral cleansing, and speech. These are the main symptoms associated with tongue/ lip/ buccal ties:
- In breastfeeding/ bottle feedings, shallow latch, colic and/or irritability, GI symptoms (GER, gas, hiccups), extended feedings, poor weight gain, clicking, gagging; maternal nipple pain/ trauma, recurrent thrush/ mastitis, combative behaviors.
- Gastrointestinal tract issues including gassiness, hiccups, vomiting, and acid reflux-like symptoms.
- During solid/ table foods feedings, difficulty transitioning to purees and table foods; poor intake and weight gain, gagging, refusals and negative mealtime behaviors.
- In speech production, speech related issues with reduced speech clarity and difficulty articulating «t, d, z, s, th, n, and l» sounds.
Building on the most advanced recent medical research, we now provide comprehensive:
- Evaluation for presence and impact of tethered oral tissues on your child’s oral function.
- Execution of a treatment plan for optimizing oral function in the presence of tethered oral tissues.
- Education and communication with caregivers and other medical professionals regarding identification and treatment of tethered oral tissues, including educational tools and resources.
