A Holistic Supplementation Regimen for Tongue-Tied Babies With Slow Weight Gain and Failure to Thrive.

Breastfeeding is the best way to feed infants, but optimal milk transfer and weight gain depend on good latching. Tongue- and lip-tie can prevent successful latching and prevent adequate nutrition. Tongue- and lip-tied babies can either have slow weight gain (SWG) or failure to thrive (FTT). We examine the effect of a holistic supplementation regimen on tongue-tied babies with SWG and FTT. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 55 tongue- and lip-tied babies with SWG and FTT at KMC Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. All babies underwent frenotomy and received supplementation with formula (64%) or pasteurized donor breast milk, using either a modified lactation aid (78%) or the Medela Supplemental Nursing System (22%). All mothers received domperidone and acupuncture to improve milk supply. A majority of babies had type 3 tongue-tie (46%) and class 3 upper lip-tie. Twenty-five subjects (45%) had SWG, and 30 subjects (55%) had FTT. All mothers had low milk supply. At-the-breast supplementation improved the nutritional status of 44/55 subjects (80%, <italic>p</italic> <.001), whereas 11 subjects received early complementary feeding at 4 months of age. By the end of the study, all subjects were solely breastfed without at-the-breast supplementation. The holistic management of tongue- and lip-tied babies with SWG or FTT consisting of frenotomy, at-the-breast supplementation, domperidone, and acupuncture improved infant nutritional status and the mother’s milk supply. Babies could breastfeed without supplementation after treatment and gained weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]