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Maternity

Caring for your baby after a tongue-tie division

Maternity Department

Patient Information Leaflet

 

Introduction

This leaflet gives advice on the care of your baby after a tongue-tie division (frenulotomy).

 

What happens after a tongue-tie division has been performed?

During the healing process, a white diamond-shape may form under your baby’s tongue. This may be yellow if your baby is jaundiced. It gradually shrinks and will usually disappear one to two weeks after the procedure.

This picture shows normal wound healing after division:

An image showing a baby's mouth after a tongue tie procedure has been performed.

 

What should I do once I get home?

You should care for and feed your baby as normal.

If your baby is crying, it is more likely that you may catch the wound area under the baby’s tongue with the teat or your nipple, which can make the wound start to ooze some blood.

What if there is bleeding from the wound?

Before you leave the clinic, the tongue-tie practitioner will ensure there is no bleeding from the wound. However, there is a possibility bleeding may start after you leave the clinic.

If this happens:

If your baby will not feed or bleeding continues after a feed:

If after five minutes the bleeding has not stopped, use a fresh, clean, dry cloth and apply continuous pressure to the wound again for another five to 10 minutes. Make sure you are applying pressure to the wound. Hold the cloth at all times, and do not leave it in your baby’s mouth. Ensure that your baby’s chin is not pressed down towards your baby’s chest, so that your baby is able to breathe at all times. Try and keep your baby warm and calm.

When you arrive at the ED, give staff the letter you have been given by your tongue-tie practitioner. This letter may have been put in your Red Book. We recommend the Association to Tongue-tie Practitioners guidance on bleeding is used:

Bleeding Guidelines | Tongue-tie Practitioners

What if my baby is unsettled?

Babies may feel some pain after the procedure, and if your baby does cry more than normal, this usually settles within 24 hours. Some babies may need pain relief:

For babies under eight weeks of age 

Paracetamol medicine is safe if it is prescribed by your GP.

For babies over eight weeks

Paracetamol (eg Calpol) can be given without a prescription (always read the label; do not exceed the recommended dose).

Useful calming techniques

What if my baby is reluctant to feed or there is a change in the way my baby feeds?

Some babies may feed differently after the procedure as the tongue is able to move more freely. If your baby is unable to latch on and breastfeed, try giving some of your expressed breast milk from a plastic medicine spoon that has been sterilised to calm them. Then try to breastfeed your baby again.

If you are using formula milk to feed your baby and they are reluctant to take the teat, try giving some formula milk from a plastic medicine spoon that has been sterilised.

We strongly recommend that you access some feeding support following the division of your baby’s tongue-tie if you are having feeding difficulties. This may be from your community midwife, infant feeding specialist, health visitor, a local breastfeeding group or a breastfeeding helpline. This will help ensure that you and your baby are achieving a good latch following the division.

What follow up care will my baby receive?

If you feel that feeding issues have returned related to the tongue tie, follow up can be arranged by following the process for ‘patient initiated follow up’. A telephone appointment can be arranged by calling our outpatient centre on 01384 365100 and ask for a tongue patient initiated follow up appointment. A tongue tie practitioner will call you and arrange a clinic appointment if this is required. You will be able to arrange follow up for 6 weeks after your tongue tie appointment, your baby will then be discharged.

The tongue tie team can be contacted by email on dgft.tonguetie.assessment@nhs.net

Or call 01384 456111 ext. 3887 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

How can I help to prevent the tongue-tie from reforming?

It is rare for the tongue-tie to reform. Regular breastfeeding may help your baby’s future tongue movement and reduce the risk of reformation. This will have been discussed with you at the clinic.

If your baby’s feeding improves but then becomes a problem again, please follow the patient initiated follow up process.

Can I find out more?

You can find out more from the following web links:

National feeding help and support

National breastfeeding support contact numbers are as follows:

Local help and support

If you need help with breastfeeding, you can contact your local infant feeding team, community midwife, health visitor, support network or a breastfeeding helpline.

For non-urgent enquiries after the tongue-tie division procedure, please contact a tongue-tie practitioner on: dgft.tonguetie.assessment@nhs.net

You will receive an email response or telephone call within seven days of your contact.

 

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand about this leaflet, please contact:

A tongue-tie practitioner at Russells Hall Hospital by calling 01384 456111 ext 3887 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm).

For non-urgent queries you can email a tongue-tie practitioner at:

dgft.tonguetie.assessment@nhs.net

 

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand about this leaflet, please contact Russells Hall Hospital on 01384 456111.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet, please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net.

 

Originator: Frenulotomy Practitioners. Review date August 2025. Next review due: August 2028. Version 6. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/00976