Tongue-Tie: Morphogenesis, Impact, Assessment, and Treatment – Order the Book Now!

Tongue-tie: Morphogenesis, Impact, Assessment, and Treatment busts the myths associated with tongue-tie that prevent the re-establishment of routine assessment and treatment of the condition in the early postpartum period. Dr. Hazelbaker provides both the old and new evidence that enables clinicians to properly assess, diagnose and treat this genetic condition that creates so many problems with infant feeding, speech, and orofacial development.

Dr. Hazelbaker presents the embryological and physiological underpinnings of tongue-tie, discusses tongue-tie’s impact, provides information on assessment and classification then rounds out her book with research-based treatment options and guidelines. She weaves in her personal story, having been tongue-tied and being the mother of two formerly tongue-tied children, as well as the stories of many other families into the science, creating both a readable and credible book. Tongue-tie: Morphogenesis, Impact, Assessment, and Treatment is the definitive book on tongue-tie that will serve health professionals and policy-makers worldwide as they endeavor to change the clinical culture surrounding this common but underappreciated problem.

Order the book now by visiting www.alisonhazelbaker.com/shop

ILCA Statement on Breastfeeding and Lactation Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Statement released: 18 March 2020

All international world health guidelines agree: Breastfeeding should continue and be supported during the COVID-19 epidemic, with appropriate precautions.

Breastfeeding protects infants and young children, particularly against infectious disease.1 When a person is lactating and becomes ill with a virus, they develop antibodies to fight the illness. Those antibodies are then conveyed to the infant through breastmilk, helping to protect the infant from illnesses to which the parent has been exposed.2

According to UNICEF, “Considering the benefits of breastfeeding and the insignificant role of breastmilk in the transmission of other respiratory viruses, the mother can continue breastfeeding, while applying all the necessary precautions.”3

Now more than ever, families need lactation support to navigate infant feeding questions and challenges. According to the World Health Organization, “Breastfeeding counselling, basic psychosocial support and practical feeding support should be provided to all pregnant women and mothers with infants and young children, whether they or their infants and young children have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.”4

Breastfeeding or chestfeeding people at home with mild symptoms of a suspected COVID-19 infection are currently advised by WHO to wear a mask and perform hand hygiene before and after having close contact with the baby, in addition to other guidelines provided here.5

Breastfeeding or chestfeeding people with more severe cases can continue breastfeeding. If severe illness prevents direct breastfeeding, the parent should be supported to safely provide their expressed milk to the infant while continuing appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.6 If the lactating parent is too unwell to express milk, find resources for the delivery of human milk in WHO’s clinical interim guidance here.

Mothers and infants should be supported to stay together and maintain skin-to-skin care, regardless of suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 status, while using appropriate precautions. See WHO’s interim guidelines, including appropriate IPC, here. 7

Skilled lactation providers in the community setting can consider telehealth when face-to-face care is challenging. ILCA is deeply grateful to health care providers in all settings during this critical time. In some areas and in some cases, delivery of lactation care via telehealth may be a resource. Find telehealth resources for lactation consultants here.

The International Lactation Consultant Association will continue to provide resources to skilled lactation providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find your regional guidelines, resources for lactation consultants, and communications tools here: ilca.org/covid-19.

NOTE: Guidance for families and for those providing lactation support during COVID-19 is evolving. We at ILCA will do our best to keep this information as updated as possible. The information posted here may not reflect the latest news and practice guidance. Please visit our COVID-19 resource page here, review the full guidelines, and observe your local and regional care guidelines.

  1. World Health Organization. (2020).Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) is suspected. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected. WHO reference number: WHO/2019-nCoV/clinical/2020.4.
  2. Hanson, L. (1998). Breastfeeding provides passive and likely long-lasting active immunity. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology: official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 81(6). 523-33. DOI:1016/S1081-1206(10)62704-4.
  3. United Nations Children’s Fund. (2020). Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): What parents should know. Retrieved from:  https://www.unicef.org/stories/novel-coronavirus-outbreak-what-parents-should-know.
  4. World Health Organization. (2020).Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) is suspected. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected. WHO reference number: WHO/2019-nCoV/clinical/2020.4.
  5. World Health Organization. (2020). Home care for patients with suspected novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection presenting with mild symptoms and management of contact. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/home-care-for-patients-with-suspected-novel-coronavirus-%28ncov%29-infection-presenting-with-mild-symptoms-and-management-of-contacts. WHO reference number: WHO/nCov/IPC/HomeCare/2020.2. 
  6. World Health Organization. (2020).Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) is suspected. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected. WHO reference number: WHO/2019-nCoV/clinical/2020.4.
  7. World Health Organization. (2020).Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) is suspected. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected. WHO reference number: WHO/2019-nCoV/clinical/2020.4.