Skip to main content

Ankyloglossia (Tongue Tie) — Lactation Consultation Indications — Clinical Pathway: Primary Care, Outpatient Specialty Care

Infants with Ankyloglossia (Tongue-Tie) Clinical Pathway — Outpatient Specialty Care and Primary Care

Lactation Consultation Indications

Timely interventions are essential to prevent loss of lactating parent’s milk production and to support parent’s feeding goals. Milk production can be greatly affected by ineffective milk removal.

When challenges exceed the expertise of the medical provider patients should be referred to an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for clinical management of complex lactation issues.

ILCA — Locate a Lactation Consultant  

Concerning Features Comments
Milk Production
Low production or overproduction
Latching Difficulties
  • Inability to latch, or sustain latch
  • Suboptimal positioning
  • Infant frustration and crying at breast/chest
  • Feeding inefficiency
    • Lasting > 30 min or < 5 min
Lactating Parent’s Anatomy
  • Flat/inverted nipples
  • Hypoplasia/inadequate breast tissue
  • Use of nipple shield may be due to parent’s anatomy rather than
    infant ankyloglossia
Nipple Pain or Damage
  • Parental discomfort/pain during feedings
  • Misshapen/damaged nipples during or after feeding
    • Compression stripe, white, cracked nipples

 

Jump back to top