Tongue-tie assessment and release consultations

Sometimes babies may find it difficult to breast/chest or bottle feed. Often adjustments to latch and positioning can help resolve the issue, but in certain cases you and your babies would still struggle. This can be caused by a tongue-tie, which is the restriction of the tongue movements, due to a short and tight lingual frenulum (the “string” some of us have under their tongue)

Your Midwife will support you in assessing feeding, tongue mobility, oral function, and if necessary treat your baby’s tongue-tie with a quick surgical procedure

Your baby will be treated if:

• they are aged 7 days to 6 months (extenuating circumstances can be considered for younger/older babies)

• the tongue-tie is affecting feeding

• they have received vitamin K injection at birth or at least 2 doses of oral Vitamin K

• there are no underlying medical conditions, and no history/family history of bleeding disorders

• they are fit and well during the consultation

• they have no oral abnormalities that could obstruct direct vision of the lingual frenulum

• in case they are born premature, they are in good health and are establishing feeding at home.

The session includes: Taking your antenatal, postnatal and parental health history; Full oral and physical assessment of your baby to rule out any muscular tension/restriction; Demonstration of mouth and tongue exercises to teach your baby how to increase the range of movement of their tongue before and after the procedure; Infant feeding support and relevant feeding plan; Surgical treatment of a tongue-tie (frenulotomy) and/or suggestions on non-surgical alternatives if you don’t feel ready to consent for surgery. Referral to other practitioners, such as paediatric osteopaths or other specialists will be also discussed if necessary

Locations: in the comfort of your home, or in our Central London clinic @ The Light Centre Monument

Useful resources and forms:

Tongue-tie information leaflet

Frenulotomy consent form template

Prices:

• Tongue-tie assessment and release - Ideal if you are already receiving infant feeding support and/or your baby is being treated for muscular tensions (eg. osteopathy) : assessment and release of tongue-tie, implementation of relevant exercises, initial feeding support + 4 weeks of WhatsApp support

  ‍In-clinic from £250 (up to 1.5 hours)

  @ Home from £350 (up to 2 hours)

• Tongue-tie assessment and feeding support + 2 weeks of WhatsApp support

  In-clinic from £140 (up to 1.5 hours)

  @ Home from £180 (up to 2 hours)

• Tongue-tie follow-up and release + 4 weeks of WhatsApp support

  In-clinic from £210 (up to 1 hour)

  @ Home from £310 (up to 1.5 hours)

• Tongue-tie Follow-up : review of the progress post-frenulotomy and infant feeding support+ 2 weeks of WhatsApp support

  In-clinic from £100 (up to 1 hour)

  @ Home from £140 (up to 1.5 hours)

Packages for a more holistic support:

• Tongue-tie Standard - Ideal for complex cases or if you have not seen other infant feeding specialists to address your feeding problems: 1st appointment to assess oral function, introduce specific exercises and improve infant feeding + 1 follow-up to release the tongue-tie and work on infant feeding + 1 follow-up to review progress post-frenulotomy + 8 weeks of WhatsApp support

‍ In-clinic from £440

@ Home from £620

• Tongue-tie Basic - Ideal to prepare you and your baby for the frenulotomy: 1st appointment to assess oral function, introduce specific exercises and improve infant feeding + 1 follow-up to release the tongue-tie and work on infant feeding + 6 weeks of WhatsApp support

  ‍In-clinic from £340

  @ Home from £480

More packages available in the Lactation Consultations section

Out of area (40-60 minute long commute) extra charge applied to standard fee: £50

Overtime extra charge: £30 for any additional 30 minutes to the face to face consultations. For video consultation, the additional charge will be £20 for any extra 30 minutes

WhatsApp support time starting from the first visit. See T&C.