RE>No frenulum                               5/31/96

Cathy,

Frenuli, like breasts, come in all sizes, some almost non-existent. The
shorter the frenulum, the more difficult it is for baby to extend his tongue
over the lower gum and to cup it underneath mother's breast to suck
efficiently. Yes, no frenulum will definitely jeopardize breastfeeding if it
is not attended to. The degree of intervention will depend on the degree of
attachment of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When a short frenulum is
the problem, in certain situations, simply snipping the connective tissue
(which contains no nerve and minimal vascularization, as I read) is a simple
procedure and mothers say they can feel the difference immediately with the
next breastfeeding session. On the other hand, if the tongue is attached to
the floor of the mouth, this will probably require surgery, which also means
recovery time.

I hope this helps,

Nicole Bernshaw