Might Your Baby Have A Tongue Tie?

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Quiz Questions

1.
How would you describe breastfeeding currently?
- A.
  Smooth sailing
- B.
  A bit frustrating
- C.
  Very painful but tolerable-ish
- D.
  So painful that I try to avoid it at all costs
2.
How do your nipples feel between feeding sessions?
- A.
  Perfectly fine
- B.
  A little bit sore
- C.
  Noticeably painful
- D.
  Excruciating
3.
How do your nipples look right after breastfeeding?
- A.
  Just as round as they went in
- B.
  A bit creased on the tip
- C.
  Like a brand new stick of lipstick
4.
Which of the following descriptions best represents the sensation you feel while breastfeeding
- A.
  Smooth and steady tugging
- B.
  Weak tugging
- C.
  A bunch of chompyness
- D.
  Grating or Friction
- E.
  A combination of the above minus Smooth and Steady
- F.
  Smooth and steady at first then chompyness or friction
- G.
  None of the above
5.
I see my baby stick out their tongue beyond their lips
- A.
  Frequently! Their tongue is always moving in and out of their mouth!
- B.
  Sometimes. I see it every now and again.
- C.
  Rarely. I've seen them stick out their tongue before once or twice.
- D.
  Never! I've never seen my baby stick their tongue beyond their lips.
- E.
  I am not sure.
6.
How does breastfeeding sound most of the time?
- A.
  Quiet. I hear soft noises sometimes that sound like a "kah".
- B.
  Out of breath. My baby always sounds like they're panting while feeding.
- C.
  Noisey. My baby makes clicking noises when they eat.
- D.
  Coughy. My baby chokes or sputters regularly.
- E.
  To be honest, I am not sure.
7.
How messy are breastfeeds usually?
- A.
  Squeaky clean!
- B.
  A bit messy. I keep a towel handy just in case.
- C.
  Quite a mess! Even with a bib or towel, my baby leaks milk everywhere!
- D.
  It varies between a bit messy and quiet a mess!
8.
How often does your baby breastfeed?
- A.
  Regularly, 8-12 times a day with a 4 hour stretch every 24 hours.
- B.
  Often. My baby likes to feed frequently in the evenings.
- C.
  ALL THE TIME. It seems like my baby is always hungry and doesn't do one 4 hour stretch between feeds in 24 hours.
- D.
  I'm not sure but it seems pretty normal for their age.
9.
How long does your baby breastfeed for on average?
- A.
  Usually less than 15 minutes, but they're gaining weight fine.
- B.
  About 15-20 minutes.
- C.
  Usually between 25-35minutes.
- D.
  Almost always over 45 minutes.
- E.
  Who can keep track? It's like they never unlatch!!
10.
When was the last time you had mastitis (with this baby)?
- A.
  I have never had mastitis, thankfully.
- B.
  I had it once, but it was a while ago.
- C.
  Funny you should ask. I am battling mastitis now!
- D.
  This is at least the 2nd time I have had mastitis in the past 6 weeks.
- E.
  It's been a while since I had it but I've dealt with it multiple times.
11.
Regarding your baby's head position, have you noticed any of the following...
- A.
  My baby tilts their head to one side with one ear closer to their shoulder than their other.
- B.
  My baby prefers to lay with their head turned to one side. Example they always turn their head to the right when on their back, during tummy time, etc
- C.
  Both of the above
- D.
  None of the above
- E.
  I am not sure
12.
Breastfeeding is...
- A.
  Smooth sailing on both breasts
- B.
  Easier/ less painful on one breast compared to the other
- C.
  A struggle/more painful on both breasts
- D.
  I am not sure
13.
My baby regularly sleeps with their mouth
- A.
  Closed
- B.
  Open
- C.
  Sometimes closed but mostly open
- D.
  Sometimes open but mostly closed
- E.
  I'm not sure
14.
My baby's tongue...
- A.
  Is a normal tongue color on the whole top of their tongue.
- B.
  Is a bit white on the top of their tongue but the same from back to tip.
- C.
  Has a defined area near the back of their tongue that has a thick patch of white.
- D.
  Has an patch that is both white and blackish.
- E.
  I am not sure
15.
When my baby cries, their tongue
- A.
  Raises up near the top of their mouth (near the palate).
- B.
  Raises up about halfway and I can't see the top of it.
- C.
  Raises up about half way on the sides but I can see the top of it still.
- D.
  Raises up but not halfway.
- E.
  Little to no lift as it stays pretty anchored to the floor of the mouth.
16.
When my baby moves their tongue around it looks
- A.
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  Round
- B.
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  Heart Like
- C.
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  Like it has a little notch or divet in the tip
- D.
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  I can't describe it as it's always making weird shapes!
- E.
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  I am not sure
17.
Final Question! How easily can you see the band of tissue (frenulum) under your baby's tongue
- A.
  I don't think my baby has one.
- B.
  It's near the tip of the tongue so I can see it pretty often
- C.
  I see it usually only when my baby is crying

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Odds are low a tie is a factor in breastfeeding.
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While there is no substitute for a formal tongue tie evaluation by a qualified provider, based on your answers, odds are low that a tie is the issue. With that said, because you're taking this quiz, you might find checking out this post about the science of latching which may help breastfeeding go a bit more smoothly.
2.
It might be a tie. It might not be.
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With all of the struggles you are having, it might be surprising that there's not a definitive 'YES! A tie might be an issue'. However, there are many potential causes of feeding dysfunction than just tongue ties. And no I don't mean latching adjustments- I know you've tried them all! And yes, this is true even if the latch looks perfect!! To help you pinpoint which exact oral functions (aka tongue movements) may be a challenge for your babe- and as a result, leading to frustration and/or pain for you- this FREE at home oral assessment sheet might be helpful for you. It looks at 10 functions your baby must do well for pain-free, effective breastfeeding.
3.
Odds are high that a tie might be a contributing factor to your breastfeeding experience.
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Though ties are not the only cause of feeding challenges, It sounds as though you are experiencing many of the classic symptoms of a tongue tie. Regardless of whether or not a tongue tie release is in your immediate future, there are exercises and movements we can do to try to make breastfeeding go more smoothly. With how challenging breastfeeding is going, a virtual lactation visit with an IBCLC will totally be worth it!

Might Your Baby Have A Tongue Tie?

Find out if tongue tie might be the cause of your breastfeeding challenges. The quiz was designed to help you discover the possible cause of your baby's feeding challenges and identify if you could benefit from a tailored assessment by a professional.

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes