What You Didn't Know About Tongue-Tie WIth Sammy Berry

In 2011, Sammy qualified as a midwife and have since worked within the NHS. After experiencing tongue-tie with all three of their children, with the youngest requiring a division, they developed a strong interest and passion for supporting families in overcoming the challenges that tongue-tie can bring.

They studied a postgraduate specialist course, ‘Advanced Clinical Skills in Tongue-Tie (Ankyloglossia) Management,’ at the University of Wolverhampton, and completed their practical training under the supervision of a consultant neonatologist and an experienced registered midwife/frenulotomist.

Medications or milk thickeners do not cure reflux! While they can help alleviate symptoms, they do not address the underlying cause. Having been through this as a parent, it's important to recognize that although reflux is common, it is not normal.

Consider this: if an adult or toddler went to the GP and reported severe pain or physical sickness every time they ate, would the GP simply prescribe medication or suggest adding a thickener to drinks? Absolutely not! They would investigate the root cause to understand what is happening.

You wouldn’t be satisfied with the response, “You’re still gaining weight” or “You’ll grow out of it.” So why is this acceptable for babies?

Babies need support to identify the source of their discomfort, and as parents, we also need help to address these causes, both mentally and physically. Finding the cause isn’t always easy—many factors can contribute to reflux. Specialists often highlight that a major overlooked cause is tongue-tie or oral dysfunction. Poor oral function can increase air intake, which worsens reflux. Additionally, other conditions such as CMPA (Cow's Milk Protein Allergy) or dysphagia may play a role.

So don't settle for just treating the symptoms—seek the right support to find the cause!

 

Find Sammy here - https://www.instagram.com/tonguetiespecialist