'The paediatrician saw no sign of it': Mother's experience with son's tongue tie diagnosis

When the band of tissue under the tongue is too short, breastfeeding can be challenging, but getting an accurate diagnosis is often just as difficult, says Helen O’Callaghan

Amy Goodson and Jay Mulvany, with their son Mason, 15 weeks who had a tongue and lip tie sucessfully revised at the National Tongue Tie Centre in Knocklofty Tipperary. Picture: Moya Nolan.

Amy Godson wanted to breastfeed her firstborn, but the Artane mother had gestational diabetes and baby Mason, now 16 weeks, had low blood sugar.

“From day one, I had issues with breastfeeding. He had a very shallow latch — just couldn’t get a good grasp. In the hospital. I was told I’d need to give him formula, otherwise, he’d end up in the ICU. He had trouble with bottle-feeding, too.”