Susie, you wrote,
I am unclear how posterior tongue tie is related to  baby having a "cold" 
since birth and other breathing difficulties. Can  someone explain this to me?

Susie McCulloch, LLLL IBCLC
 
With a posterior tongue tie, what is usually most effected is baby's  ability 
to handle the bolus of milk and swallow correctly.   Normal central grooving 
of the tongue is compromised at the posterior part  of the tongue so milk 
doesn't get to be pooled momentarily for coordination of  swallow thus babies 
often experience micro aspirations which cause nasal  congestion.  According to 
Cathy Genna, worsening of nasal congestion  throughout a feed indicates 
aspiration.  Babies I've seen with posterior  tongue tie usually have this congested 
breathing, "stuffy nose" and when mom is  questioned about it's occurrence she 
will report it worsens during and after a  feed.  When the milk flows without 
being pooled for a split second, it is  hard for baby to coordinate 
suck/swallow/breathe sequence and some babies will  suck/swallow several times without a 
breath, thus compromising breathing and be  noted to "pant", and do catch-up 
breathing before they begin to start the whole  sequence over again.  Eating 
for these babies is usually not a pleasant  experience.  Try upending a bottle 
of water while drinking without a  pause...that's how tongue tied babies can 
feel.  It's scary and a lot of  work.
 
Hope this helps.  For further information, I suggest reading Cathy  Genna's 
and Dr Coryllos' article on tongue tie and Cathy's Leaven article;  both can be 
found as links on kellymom.com, just type in tongue tie on the  search box.  
 
Barbara Latterner, BSN, RN, IBCLC




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