Some 
babies can struggle to feed properly – especially in the early days. This can happen for many reasons such as positioning on the breast, a milk flow that’s too fast or too slow, reflux or a tongue tie.
Many feeding issues in the early days will resolve with support on attachment, feeding technique and time. Your midwife and/or health visitor can give you advice and support on feeding your baby.
If your baby needs further assessment following this support, we will be able to explain the next steps.
A tongue tie is when the strip of skin (called the frenulum) connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is shorter or tighter than normal.
Most babies with a tongue tie will have no problems with feeding. In fact, evidence shows that fewer than 10 per cent of babies will have a tongue tie that causes a feeding issue.
If you are worried your baby might have a tongue tie or other feeding problem, you should contact your midwife or health visitor.
They will usually watch your baby feeding. If there are any problems, they may need to check your baby's mouth to see how their tongue moves. Your midwife or health visitor may be able to spot the problem right away and support you with feeding, or they may need to refer you to the specialist tongue tie clinic.
There are many things that can affect feeding in the first days and weeks after birth. This can include how your baby was born, any pain relief you received during labour, jaundice and milk supply coming in.
Often a feeding problem can be solved with support on positioning and attachment on the breast and feeding technique. Even babies with a tongue tie affecting feeding are often helped a lot by this.
There is online support and advice that can help you improve your baby's feeding techniques.
Read more about attachment & positioning.
If you need help with breastfeeding, you can speak to your midwife or health visitor, or you can visit a local community breastfeeding café or support group in your area. You can find out more about where and when groups are taking place using the link below:
How Will Assessments Take Place?
Referral to the tongue tie clinic
A trained practitioner may need to check how your baby moves their tongue to see if it could be affecting feeding. If they think it might be, they’ll refer you to the tongue-tie clinic.
If you are referred to the tongue tie clinic, the team will contact you to make an appointment.
At the clinic, your baby will be checked by a specialist. They will be able to tell you if your baby needs treatment for tongue tie or if the problem can be resolved with support on feeding technique.
Treatment for tongue tie
If treatment is needed, your baby will have a straightforward procedure called a frenulotomy. This is where the strip of skin connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth (the frenulum) is released through a small cut.
This is carried out by specially trained doctors, nurses or midwives. It only takes a few seconds and most babies don’t even cry.
As soon as it’s done, you can feed your baby which helps to heal any bleeding.
Your midwife and/or health visitor can give you advice if you think your baby has a feeding issue including tongue tie.
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
If your baby is under 28 days old, please phone Community Midwifery Connect (CMC) on 01603 287239 or the Infant Feeding team on 01603 286058.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn
If your baby is under 28 days old, please call your community midwife or call the Infant Feeding Team on 01553 613710 or 01553 613950 (9-5 pm 7 days a week).
James Paget University Hospital
If your baby is under 28 days old, please call the Infant Feeding Team on 01493 453076 or seek advice on the Facebook page: JPUH Bumps to breastfeeding
If your baby is 28 days or older please call Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 and you can speak to a Health Visitor or Infant Feeding Champion.
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