While I found the article that Nancy Morbacher posted interesting, I am not
sure we are really seeing an epidemic. Perhaps just more educated moms. I
do seem to see a lot of babies who are chomping on the breast instead of
sucking properly - one of the signs of tongue tie.  I am fortunate to have
both an excellent Pediatric Dentist and a Speech Therapist who does cranial
sacral work and is excellent with babies.  I refer a lot of moms to these
two and sometimes get referrals back - especially from the dentist.  If he
has done a revision and mom still in pain he will say that they should see
a lactation consultant.  Sometimes the speech therapist treating with CST
can unwind babies enough that the symptoms from tongue will abate, other
times her work doesn't help.  She feels that a lot of babies are just tight
throughout their musculature due to the birth process.  I imagine that
Jennifer Tow would say that the big increase in tongue ties is from
epigenetics.  What ever the cause I do see a lot of babies who are tongue
tied and a lot who are just chomping at the breast, but don't really seem
to have a tongue-tie.  I think a mom who is reading the internet might
think that her baby is tongue-tied when it is chomping the milk out.

My main question, is what do others do for a baby who is chomping?  Do you
immediately think PTT, or do you have methods that work to stop the
chomping?
Peg Merrill, IBCLC
Maryland

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