Tongue Tie and Infant Feeding Specialist
Welcome.
PLEASE NOTE there have been some recent changes here at Tongue Tie Midwives. Katie has left the business to pursue her midwifery career. However, the service is still very much running. As I strive to take the service forward, there will be further changes and services offered. But for now, I have increased the appointment times to 90 minutes to allow me to continue to provide the care you deserve.
Who Am I?
Hi – I am Donna, and I am a registered midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
My early career was spent for over 10 years working as a community midwife – a job which I was always destined for. I then went on to become a midwife in the homebirth team. This was the absolute highlight of my NHS career. Every home visit, every call out, and every single birth, just felt like an absolute honour.
I then took an Infant Feeding Role. I have, throughout my career, always had a passion for supporting families with feeding. This stems from my own feeding challenges, and although my children are now adults, our feeding journeys are often complex and difficult, and it’s a journey we hold on to.
For this reason – I continue to build upon my knowledge and expertise around feeding, aiming to provide the very best evidence based care and support. As part of my Infant Feeding Role, I qualified as a tongue tie practitioner in 2022, after completing my training at Wolverhampton University. I am also a member of the Association of Tongue Tie Practitioners (ATP).
I pride myself on providing a caring, unhurried and fully holistic service.
Appointments are offered to any baby up to 6 months of age (sometimes older if you enquire), and I see babies regardless of whether they are breast or bottle feeding.
If you are struggling with feeding and are struggling to understand why, trust your gut and book for an assessment with a qualified Tongue Tie Specialist.
Why choose Tongue Tie Midwives Yorkshire?
CQC Registered
Being CQC registered ensures that the service is safe, effective, compassionate and of a high standard.
Clinical Expertise
I have over 15 years midwifery experience, and qualified as a tongue tie practitioner in 2022. I am passionate about continually developing my knowledge in all areas frenulotomy and infant feeding.
Early Appointments
I aim to offer appointments as soon as possible, enabling you to receive timely and targeted assistance.
Easily Accessible
I run the clinic from Ossett, West Yorkshire, and there is free parking on site.
What Is A Tongue Tie?
Many babies have a piece of membrane under their tongue (the lingual frenulum), and often this does not cause the baby any problems. The frenulum is part of our normal anatomy.
However, in some babies this frenulum may be short, tight and attached close to the tip of the tongue (easily seen), or may be further back in the tongue, which can be less easy to see and is often only felt. Restrictions in tongue movement and function can then lead to feeding difficulties.
The incidence of tongue tie is thought to occur in up to 10% of babies, and can be inherited.
How Does A Tongue Tie Affect Babies?
For babies to feed effectively, babies need to be able to open their mouth wide and move their tongue forward to cover the gum ridge. This allows babies to cup the breast or bottle teat in their mouth to stabilize, which then creates a seal with the lips and tongue, forming a vacuum.
The back of the tongue needs to be free to elevate, not only to perform a correct suck/swallow pattern (without excessive air intake), but also to undulate like a wave during feeding (peristalsis).
Tongue tie results in feeding difficulties that are not specific to whether you are breast or bottle feeding. Therefore, changing the method of feeding does not change the function of the tongue.
If your baby is having feeding difficulties, seek support from a Tongue Tie Specialist who will assess oral function. This will determine whether any treatment is necessary.
Have you considered bodywork?
Bodywork for babies is a non-invasive and gentle way to help babies who are holding tension. Bodywork practitioners include osteopaths, cranial osteopaths or chiropractors working with babies.
Signs that your baby might be holding tension are:-
difficulty feeding (pulling away, arching back, frantic and/or frustrated)
perceived strong head control or feeling stiff / rigid
one sided head preference
Dislike being laid down
Colic/Reflux
Clenched fists
If your baby is showing any of the above symptoms, bodywork may be beneficial prior to an assessment with me, to help relieve some of the symptoms, and in some cases, improve feeding and a tongue tie release may not be needed. If you are in any doubt – please do not hesitate to contact me and I can signpost you to a recommended practitioner in your area.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms of A Tongue Tie?
YOUR BABY may show some of the following symptoms:
• Poor attachment to the nipple and/or teat
• Struggles to maintain a latch
• Weight loss or poor weight gain
• Fussiness at the breast
• Frequent feeds
• Not content after feeds
• Dribbles when feeding
• Clicking
• Slow to feed / tires whilst feeding
• Coughing or choking
• Excessive hiccups
• Prolonged jaundice
• Vomiting and/or reflux
• Colic
• Milk tongue (often mistaken for thrush)
• Lip blisters
• Sleeping with mouth open
YOU MAY experience the following symptoms
• Pain during feeding
• Mishappen / sore nipples
• Engorgement due to the incomplete breast drainage
• Blocked ducts
• Mastitis
