Exclusive Breastfeeding in Infants with Ankyloglossia: Does the Tongue–Tie Interfere with Growth Patterns?

Abstract

The effect of ankyloglossia on breastfeeding remains unclear. Most studies focus on surgical procedures to correct aspects of breastfeeding, and few studies have focused on follow-up patients through. This chapter aims to analyze the influence of ankyloglossia on exclusive breastfeeding and the growth of infants up to the sixth month of life. A prospective cohort study was carried out with 225 mother–infant dyads who were followed up for the first six months of life. Full-term babies with and without ankyloglossia were followed up at a specialized breastfeeding center. Weight and length were measured and adjustments for age were calculated using the Body Mass Index and Z scores. Statistical analyzes were performed using descriptive statistics, and ANOVA for repeated measures. No significant differences were found in the growth measures of the following babies who remained exclusively breastfed (p > 0.05). Thus, compared with infants with the normal lingual frenulum, infants with ankyloglossia had no significant changes were observed in the growth measurements of babies with and without ankyloglossia. Infants should be followed and supported in initial difficulties to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures since the idea that tongue-tied babies could have a different milk flow rate is not supported.