Treatment

For babies under 8 months old this is a simple procedure, which takes a few seconds and does not need an anaesthetic. We do not think the treatment hurts newborn babies, as it was shown in one study that a small number of babies slept through the procedure. Older babies and certainly those over the age of 9 months will need a general anaesthetic.

We take the baby to a quiet room nearby. Babies are wrapped tightly in a blanket to stop them wriggling. As soon as the tongue-tie has been snipped using sterile scissors - this takes about 2 seconds - pressure is applied with a piece of sterile gauze under the tongue for a few seconds. Usually there are only a few drops of blood. The blanket is then unwrapped and the baby is fed immediately, by either breast or bottle.

Following division, you may notice a small white blister under the tongue, which does not interfere with feeding. 

For more information you can read our tongue-tie patient information.

The tongue-tie service at UHS is led by Mr Nigel Hall, consultant paediatric and neonatal surgeon, with Erin Winteridge, specialist midwife and tongue tie practitioner.

Health professionals can find information on referring a baby for tongue-tie division here.