How to get a good latch with an upper lip tie?

Understanding Upper Lip Tie and Its Impact on Breastfeeding
An upper lip tie occurs when the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum is unusually tight or thick, restricting the lip’s movement. This condition can significantly affect breastfeeding, as a proper latch is crucial for effective feeding. When the upper lip cannot create a sufficient seal around the nipple, it can lead to shallow latching, which may result in discomfort for the mother and inadequate milk transfer for the baby.
The Importance of a Good Latch
A good latch is essential for successful breastfeeding. It allows the baby to draw milk effectively while minimizing pain for the mother. With an upper lip tie, achieving this can be challenging. The upper lip needs to be mobile enough to flange out and create a seal around the areola, not just the nipple. If the lip is tethered, the baby may struggle to open wide enough or may not be able to flange the lip properly, leading to a shallow latch .
Techniques for Achieving a Good Latch
1. Positioning: Start by ensuring that both you and your baby are in a comfortable position. Hold your baby close, with their nose aligned with your nipple. This positioning encourages the baby to open wide and latch deeply.
2. Encouraging Lip Flanging: If your baby’s upper lip is rolled in, gently evert it using your fingertip. You can apply light pressure on the baby’s chin to help them open their mouth wider. This technique can help the upper lip to flange out, which is crucial for a good latch.
3. Creating a Dent: Before latching, you can squeeze the area around your nipple to create a small dent under the areola. Position your baby’s chin in this dent, which can help guide them to latch more effectively.
4. Breast Compression: While nursing, you can use breast compression to encourage milk flow. This technique can help keep your baby engaged and encourage them to maintain a deeper latch.
5. Stretches and Exercises: If your baby has an upper lip tie, performing gentle stretches on the upper lip can help improve mobility. This should be done multiple times a day, especially during the healing process if a frenotomy (a procedure to release the tie) has been performed.
Seeking Professional Help
If you continue to experience difficulties with latching despite trying these techniques, it may be beneficial to consult a lactation consultant or a pediatrician. They can assess the severity of the upper lip tie and recommend further interventions, such as a frenotomy, if necessary.
In conclusion, while an upper lip tie can pose challenges to breastfeeding, understanding how to facilitate a good latch can make a significant difference. With the right techniques and support, many mothers and babies can successfully navigate these hurdles and enjoy a fulfilling breastfeeding experience.

Does upper lip tie affect bottle feeding?

Breast and bottle feeding- lip-tie can cause an infant to have trouble latching onto the breast or bottle because the lip-tie prevents them from creating a seal around the nipple and using enough suction.

How long after lip tie release does feeding improve?

Average breastmilk intake improved 155% from 3.0 (2.9) to 4.9 (4.5) mL/min (P < . 001). Conclusions: Surgical release of tongue-tie/lip-tie results in significant improvement in breastfeeding outcomes. Improvements occur early (1 week postoperatively) and continue to improve through 1 month postoperatively.

What happens if you don’t release a lip tie?

Children who have untreated lip ties may experience speech and dental problems. Upper lip limitation can impact speech development and articulation. It can also cause tooth misalignment and spacing in youngsters, necessitating orthodontic treatment later in life.

What issues can an upper lip tie cause?

It can make it difficult for the baby to open their mouth wide enough to breastfeed correctly. It can also cause problems with speech development, as the child may have difficulty making certain sounds. Additionally, this can lead to dental issues, as the teeth may not come in correctly.

Can a lip tie cause a bad latch?

While the tongue draws in the nipple, the lips latch around it, allowing the baby to effectively suckle from the breast. If a tongue tie is limiting the movements of the tongue or a lip tie is making it difficult to form a proper seal, your baby may not be able to breastfeed effectively.

How to get deeper latch with lip tie?

Shaping your breast into a ‘sandwich’ can help your baby get a deep latch. Squeeze your breast between your thumb on top of your breast and your fingers below. The ‘sandwich’ needs to be horizontal to your baby’s mouth, like your baby is eating a sandwich.

How much does it cost to fix upper lip tie?

The cost for an average of laser tongue tie removal is about $950, while the average cost for tip tie removal is $800. On average, the patient can expect to spend about $950 for the treatment of tongue tie with specialized laser removal including the consultation cost and follow visits if needed.

What is the best age to fix a lip tie?

A frenectomy is used to correct lip or tongue tie. It is recommended your child has the simple procedure before the age of 12 months to prevent the need for anesthesia or sedation; however, it can be performed when they are older as well. The entire treatment generally takes less than one minute to complete.

Does an upper lip tie need to be fixed?

Does a lip tie need to be corrected? Lip and tongue ties only need to corrected in the presence of symptoms related to the tie. For example, speech difficulty, feeding troubles (bottle/breast with infants or solid foods in older babies/children), neck and back muscular issues, etc.

How do you latch with an upper lip tie?

A deeper latch
Denting the breast at the edge of the areola with a finger and placing your baby’s chin in the dent may also help. You could also try placing your thumb or finger near the base of the nipple where your baby’s upper lip will be.