About Bye Bye Tongue Tie
WHAT IS A TONGUE-TIE? .
A tongue-tie is when a thin membrane of skin (lingual frenulum) attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth or the lower gum ridge, which may restrict the tongue's movement. It can be attached at the very front tip of the tongue (anterior) the middle of the tongue or or at the back of the tongue (posterior).
TONGUE-TIE and FEEDING.
Babies need to be able to move their tongue's freely to effectively latch to the breast and/or a bottle and to remove adequate amounts of milk whilst feeding. Some babies have a long stretchy tongue-tie, which doesn't restrict their tongue's function and they are able to feed very well. Babies with a restrictive tongue-tie often experience lots of feeding difficulties.
DIFFICULTIES FOR BABY -
Unable to latch or latches with difficulty -- Falls asleep quickly -- Unsatisfied and always hungry -- Inadequate weight gain -- Loosing weight -- Slipping off and/or pulling off breast during feeds -- Leaking and dribbling -- Clicking sound during feeds -- Coughing and choking during feeds -- Colic and wind -- Reflux and/or vomiting
DIFFICULTIES FOR MUM -
Painful latch -- Sore cracked and/or bleeding nipples -- Engorgement and/or Mastitis -- Misshapen nipples after feeds -- Having to use nipple shields -- Prolonged feeds -- Continuously feeding -- Exhaustion -- Diminished milk supply -- Having to pump/express to maintain supply.
ABOUT ME and MY SERVICE.
My name is Tara de Meza, I've been qualified as a Midwife for 9 years and currently work on a busy Labour Ward in the NHS. I also provide a private bespoke 'Tongue-Tie Service' in the comfort of families own homes. Each appointment includes a thorough consultation which covers information about the pregnancy and birth and infant feeding in the lead up to the appointment. An oral assessment which includes looking at the babies tongue function and a tongue-tie assessment. If a tongue-tie is diagnosed causing restriction in tongue function and feeding difficulties, the tongue-tie division procedure will be discussed in depth and will take place during that appointment. Skilled breastfeeding support is provided immediately after any tongue-tie procedure for those that are struggling with latch and attachment techniques. Each appointment usually lasts around 1.5 hours. I cover NW London, Bushey, Watford, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and parts of Middlesex and Hertfordshire depending on travelling distance.
I successfully breastfed my daughter and following on from my own positive experience, I became passionate about wanting to support other women during birth and beyond. I trained as a peer supporter with the 'Breastfeeding Network' to enable me to support breastfeeding mothers in the community. I gained valuable knowledge and skills during my training and completed the course in 2010.
I graduated with a degree in Midwifery from the Univerisy of Hertfordshire in 2013. My degree course is accredited by UNICEF UK and the World Health Organization with the 'Baby Friendly Initiative', which ensures best practice in the teaching and support of infant feeding.
As a student midwife, I visited many mums in their homes during the postnatal period. Many of those mums struggled to feed their babies, due to tongue-tie. The referral process within the NHS was, and often still is lengthy, as only a few hospitals provide a tongue-tie service. Some mothers had a private pracitioner come to their home: Visiting those mothers again a few days after they'd had the tongue-tie division carried out was so inspiring. In most cases, the division made an instant improvement in breastfeeding. I was amazed at how something so simple could be the difference between a mother continuing to breastfeed or to give up.
In March 2016 I completed my training in tongue-tie assessment and division with Jayne Threlfall RM, IBCLC in Southampton. I started working as a tongue-tie specialist in one of London's busiest NHS tongue-tie clinics in December 2016. After gaining valuable experience, I took over running the clinic in 2017. Following that, I became involved in helping set up a new tongue-tie service within another busy NHS hospital in the Home Counties. I am registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, The Association of Tongue-tie Practitioners (ATP), the Care Quality Commission, the Information Commissioner’s Office and am fully insured with Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd.