The purpose of this study is to determine if frenotomy for ankyloglossia will improve infant breastfeeding, decrease maternal nipple pain and increase duration of breastfeeding with the hypothesis that frenotomy will do all of the above.
The primary objective of our study is to determine if frenotomy (or release of tongue tie) for ankyloglossia (tongue tie) will decrease maternal nipple pain with breast feeding and improve infant's ability to breast feed. Our secondary objective is to determine if frenotomy for ankyloglossia will improve the length of time a mother breast feeds. Our hypothesis is that frenotomy will decrease maternal nipple pain, improve infant's breast feeding and prolong the duration of breast feeding.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
58
Frenotomy will be performed. This procedure involves crushing frenulum tissue with straight hemostat for hemostasis and anesthesia while tongue is elevated with elevator. Frenulum then cut to desired length with iris scissors. Patient then returned to parents and immediately breastfeeds without parent observing infant's mouth.
Infant taken into room away from parents and no frenotomy performed. Infant's mouth is examined but no interventions made.
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Maternal nipple pain as judged by R. Melzack's short form pain scale and infant breast feeding as judged by IBFAT scale
Time frame: immediately following 1st breast feed, and at 2 week, 2,4,6 12 month follow ups
Length of breast feeding
Time frame: 1 year follow up
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