Articles

Special thanks to the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, Dr. Valerie Lavigne and Dr. Sharon Vallone for allowing us to share this article

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of this report is to present the case of a neonate who presented to a chiropractor with a tongue-tie causing breastfeeding difficulties as well as evaluate the evidence for the frenotomy procedure.

Design: Case report

Clinical Features: A mother presented to the clinic for breastfeeding difficulties. Upon examination, the three-week -old neonate had clear signs of tongue-tie. The mother also had cracked and bleeding nipples associated with a poor latch caused by tongue-tie.

Intervention and outcome: After evaluation of the case, a frenotomy procedure was suggested to improve tongue function and reduce the breastfeeeding difficulties and nipple injury. Following the frenotomy, the pain decreased substantially on latch-on and during the feed. The nipples began to heal as well.

Conclusions: It is becoming more common for neonates with biomechanical dysfunctions affecting breastfeeding to present to a chiropractor. This biomechanical dysfunction along with congenital limitations should be explored to solve breastfeeding issues. This case suggests that the frenotomy procedure can help breastfeeding difficulties linked to tongue-tie. Considering the evidence published in the literature on the effectiveness of frenotomy with very few complications, it is the author’s view that patients experiencing breastfeeding difficulties caused by tongue-tie should consider the procedure.

Keywords: neonate, breastfeeding, tongue-tie, frenotomy, chiropractic

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Cox SG, Breastfeeding Review 2010; 18(3); 5-7.

Abstract:

A randomised controlled trial is being considered to examine the safety or efficacy of antenatal expressing and storage of colostrum. Considering that the practice is widespread an ethical dilemma would arise  as the control group of mothers would not be educated about how to express and store their colostrum and if their infant became  hypoglycaemic artificial infant milk based on cow’s milk, with all its proven association with Type 1 diabetes, would need to be given. 

Jean Cotterman, RNC, IBCLC describes an excellent technique she developed to reduce the degree of edema surrounding the areola during breast engorgement. This technique is well accepted by Lactation Consultants and has proven to be very effective in aiding the baby to latch when mother's breasts are engorged.

Handling an issue that isn't black and white.

Use of social drugs by a minority of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers is a fact of life. Breastfeeding is the only way to feed an infant for that infant to be able to achieve optimum growth, health and mental development. Drug-using mothers need to know how their drug habit will impact on their baby and their lactation and how artificial formula will affect them and their baby. Informed decision-making, which achieves the best outcome for both baby and mother, is the goal.

Although early research appeared to show that breastfeeding increases the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, recent studies which clearly define "breastfeeding" show no additional risk of MTCT of HIV through exclusive breastfeeding over not breastfeeding at all. In addition, there is no difference in the overall mortality rate at 2 years between children of HIV+ mothers randomized to breast or bottle feeding.

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This paper by Michael Woolridge aims to present a simple account of the mechanisms by which a baby removes milk from the breast, gleaned from past and current literature, to counter the tendency for inaccurate descriptions of the mechanics of infant sucking to be reproduced.

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Read this article to learn the effect on latching when the mother, or an assistant puts their hand on the back of the baby's head at the time of latching.

The defining characteristic of the class Mammalia is the ability to produce milk, an externally secreted fluid designed specifically to nourish the young. The provision of milk frees the mother from the necessity of providing a specialized environment for rearing of the young. It allows birth to occur at a relatively early stage of development and provides a time of intense maternal interaction with the newborn during early behavioral development.

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There are many different types of love: sexual, romantic, platonic, filial, maternal, paternal, spiritual, love of self, love of country, and love of possessions to name a few. Love for our mother, our first love, could be the pivotal love around which we build our ability to love in every other way. This paper will look at the chemistry that is involved in the baby’s first opportunity to love at that crucial time surrounding birth and the consequences of denying that opportunity. Love is as important to the individual as it is to their society and our world.