What is tongue-tie?

Tongue-tie is a condition which is present at birth. It is when the band which connects the tongue to the base of the mouth is quite thick or short.
A baby with tongue-tie may find it hard to breast feed. Your baby may find it hard latching and suckling. This can lead to nipple pain and trauma, and ineffective milk transfer which can cause blocked ducts and mastitis.
If the tongue-tie is making feeding your baby hard, a surgical procedure may help to release the tongue-tie. Your GP will watch your baby and may observe a breastfeed to see if there is a problem.
If your baby has a tongue-tie, but it does not impact on breastfeeding, no further treatment is required.