Action needed on child condition

AS the proud parents of a three-month-old boy, we would like to mark this National Breastfeeding Week by raising an issue that is directly affecting attempts at breastfeeding our son.

Last week we discovered that our little boy is tongue-tied. He was examined by a paediatrician at birth and by a GP at six weeks. Neither seems to have detected this condition.

We now know it is well recognised internationally that an infant who is tongue-tied can experience considerable difficulty in breastfeeding and cause unnecessary pain for the nursing mother.

There is clear scientific evidence that early intervention by way of a non-invasive frenotomy can be effective in supporting the continuation of breastfeeding.

Frenotomy involves a simple cut under the affected area of the tongue with a surgical scissors and, when performed early, is virtually risk-free. Such intervention also prevents potential problems with food intake, swallowing, speech and oral hygiene.

A child who is tongue-tied may also be unable to lick an ice-cream or suck a lolly.

Children who are not breastfed have a higher incidence and severity of illnesses such as diarrhoea, respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, diabetes, asthma, eczema and many other chronic ailments.

Research also indicates that children who are breast-fed have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and lower incidence of infections through childhood and into adulthood.

The HSE has a five-year strategic action plan aimed at increasing the very low rate of breastfeeding in Ireland.

Outdated policies on the identification of and/or intervention in tongue-tie clearly do little to change this.

Liam O’Sullivan

93 Marsham Court

Stillorgan

Co Dublin