Laura does make a good point that some babies (in infancy and into adulthood) are able to get along without having a tongue-tie clipped. This is one reason frequently given for a "wait and see" approach (in addition to "I don't believe it affects breastfeeding"). However, this approach does leave us with a dilemma. When it does impact breastfeeding and is clipped after several weeks or even months, baby and mom have already gone through a lot of distress, baby may have had less than optimum development, and may have been switched to formula. In addition, when clipped "later" and they do continue nursing, they may have to relearn as baby has gotten so used to not being able to extend the tongue that it takes patience and maybe even some "training" to be able to take advantage of the new-found freedom pf tongue movement. If one has a broken bone - one where the bones stay well approximated, not one where the ends have moved - it might be argued that the bones might heal without casting and limiting movement so why not "wait and see". Obviously, it is not wise to intervene with every variation that "might" cause a problem later. If carried to an extreme, one might argue that little girls with a family history of breast cancer should have "prophylactic mastectomies" as young as possible before they get attached to the idea of having normal breasts! We have to look at the potential problems that could develop if an anatomical variation such as tongue-tie is not dealt with early on vs dealing with them after they create problems weighed with the extent of intervention proposed. From the frenotomies I have observed (those which do not involve more than a simple snip with only a tiny drop of blood if even that) babies seem to show more distress from movement being restricted than from the snip. They show more distress from getting a shot. (Please do not turn this into a debate about shots!) Winnie Mading (still debating whether to renew my IBCLC since I am retired) *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome