Why Breastfeeding Still Hurts After Weeks: Tongue- & Lip-Ties in Babies
- Samantha Pieterse
- May 28
- 10 min read
Breastfeeding is often described as “natural,” but some moms quickly discover that natural and easy are not always the same thing. Tenderness in the early days is common, especially while both mom and baby are learning. But feeling that feeding has become an endurance sport rather than a bonding experience is not normal.
For some babies, tongue-ties or lip-ties may be causing these problems.
Tongue- and lip-ties can sometimes cause feeding problems at the breast or even during bottle-feeding, but it's important to remember, though, that not every feeding problem is caused by a tie, and not every visible tie causes problems.
That balance is super important.
Social media has made more parents aware of tongue- and lip-ties, which can be helpful. Unfortunately, it has also left many moms staring into their baby’s mouth with a torch and a growing sense of panic.
Let’s unpack what tongue- and lip-ties actually are, what feeding problems they may cause, and when it might be worth getting your baby assessed.
What Is a Tongue-Tie?
A tongue-tie happens when the piece of skin under the tongue, called the frenulum, is tighter or less flexible than usual. This can restrict how freely the tongue moves, which, in some babies, can make latching and milk transfer more difficult.
Many babies with tongue-ties feed perfectly well and never develop problems. Others struggle to latch deeply, maintain suction, or transfer milk effectively during feeds.
Tongue-ties can range from very obvious to quite subtle. Some are easy to spot, while others are only picked up during a feeding assessment.
What Does a Tongue-Tie Look Like?
Parents often notice:
A tongue that cannot lift well
A tongue that looks heart-shaped at the tip
Difficulty sticking the tongue out
Limited tongue movement during crying or feeding
However, appearance alone does not tell you how significant a tongue-tie is. Some babies with dramatic-looking ties feed beautifully, while others with less obvious ties struggle quite a lot.
Feeding function is more important than appearance alone.
How Tongue-Ties Can Affect Feeding
The tongue does far more during feeding than what you might think. To feed effectively, babies need to coordinate sucking, suction, and swallowing at the same time, which is honestly quite impressive for someone who was born three days ago.
During feeding, the tongue helps keep a deep latch, maintain suction, compress the breast or bottle teat correctly, and move milk efficiently. If tongue movement is restricted, babies sometimes start compensating in other ways.
Instead of maintaining a smooth seal during feeding, a baby may slip off the nipple repeatedly, clamp down on the nipple, break suction, swallow extra air, or struggle to transfer milk effectively. This is often where symptoms like painful breastfeeding and clicking sounds can begin.
What Is a Lip-Tie?
A lip-tie involves the piece of tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums. In some babies, this tissue may be tighter or less flexible than usual, which can limit how easily the upper lip moves or flanges outward during feeding. Like tongue-ties, lip-ties exist on a spectrum and are very common in babies.
This is usually where things become slightly more complicated.
Many babies naturally have a visible upper lip frenulum, which is not always tight or restrictive. The research around lip-ties is also less clear than it is for tongue-ties. That means lip-ties should be assessed alongside feeding symptoms.
What Does a Lip-Tie Look Like?
Parents may notice:
The upper lip seems tight or tucked inward
Difficulty flanging the upper lip outward during feeding
A prominent piece of tissue attaching the lip to the gums
Again, a visible lip-tie on its own does not automatically mean a baby has a problematic lip-tie.
Can Lip-Ties Cause Feeding Problems?
Some babies with upper lip-ties sometimes struggle to maintain a comfortable seal during feeding, especially if the upper lip doesn't flange outward as it should. Instead of forming a smooth seal around the breast or bottle teat, the lip may tuck inward or lose suction more easily during feeds.
This can sometimes lead to leaking milk or frustration during feeding. Some babies compensate quite well, while others become gassy, unsettled, or seem to work much harder during feeds.
Lip-ties are also often discussed alongside tongue-ties because some babies have both at the same time, which can make feeding difficulties more noticeable.
Some Signs a Tongue- or Lip-Tie is Affecting Breast or Bottle Feeding
Tongue- and lip-ties can affect babies very differently. Some babies gain weight well, but feeding is painful for mom. Others struggle significantly during feeds.
This is why healthcare providers will look at the overall feeding picture rather than focusing on a single symptom alone. Weight gain, maternal pain, and how stressful feeding feels overall can all help determine whether a tongue- or lip-tie may be contributing to the problem.
Tongue-/Lip-Tie Signs in Breastfed Babies
Feeding difficulties linked to tongue- or lip-ties can look different from one baby to another. If a tongue- or lip-tie is present, parents may notice things like:
Clicking during feeds
Slipping off the breast
Leaking milk from the mouth
Swallowing lots of air
Becoming gassy or uncomfortable after feeding
Very long or very frequent feeds
Falling asleep quickly during feeds
Frustration while feeding
Slow or difficult weight gain
Lip blisters or sucking calluses from feeding friction
Baby Tongue-/Lip-Tie Signs in Breastfeeding Moms
Sometimes, the first signs of a tongue- or lip-tie are experienced by a mom and not the baby. Moms experiencing feeding difficulties related to latch or tongue movement may notice:
Painful breastfeeding that does not improve despite trying different feeding positions
Cracked, blistered, or damaged nipples
Nipples that look flattened or lipstick-shaped after feeds
Engorgement or recurrent blocked ducts
Feeds that feel unusually long or constant
Physical and emotional exhaustion from feeding
Some moms blame themselves when breastfeeding feels difficult, when in reality, feeding issues are often mechanical rather than something you're “doing wrong.”
Baby Tongue-/Lip-Tie Signs During Bottle Feeding
Tongue- and lip-ties are not only breastfeeding concerns. Bottle-fed babies can also struggle with issues if they have a tongue- or lip-tie. During bottle feeding, parents may notice:
Clicking
Difficulty maintaining suction
Leaking milk from the sides of the mouth
Swallowing extra air during feeds
Taking a very long time to finish bottles
Becoming tired, fussy, or frustrated while feeding
Some babies feed adequately but seem to work much harder during bottle feeds. Others may become particularly windy or unsettled afterwards because they swallow extra air while trying to maintain suction.
Some babies show only one or two of these signs, while others show several at the same time. Many babies also compensate surprisingly well in the early weeks, which is why feeding difficulties are not always immediately obvious.
A Note on Clicking During Feeds
Clicking during feeding usually happens when suction breaks repeatedly during a feed. Some babies with tongue- or lip-ties click because they struggle to maintain a deep latch or seal, but clicking can also happen with a shallow latch, fast milk flow, or because of normal newborn feeding coordination.
How Tongue- & Lip-Ties Are Assessed
Tongue- and lip-ties are often assessed at your postnatal appointment or during a lactation consult. During a proper feeding assessment, we look at far more than just whether a baby has a visible tongue- or lip-tie. Feeding is complex, and the overall feeding experience matters much more than appearance alone.
During an assessment, we may look at how a baby latches, feeds, transfers milk, gains weight, and how feeding is affecting both baby and mom overall. This helps determine whether a tongue- or lip-tie may actually be contributing to feeding difficulties or whether another feeding issue may be involved.
At Mums & Bums Clinic, our feeding assessments focus on the full picture, because painful or stressful feeding experiences deserve proper support.
What a Breast- or Bottle Feeding Assessment Usually Includes
At Mums & Bums, a feeding assessment usually involves much more than looking under the tongue. We will often discuss feeding history, symptoms, maternal pain, weight gain patterns, and the overall feeding experience before examining how a baby feeds.
An assessment typically includes observing a feed, assessing latch and positioning, and performing a functional assessment of tongue and lip movement inside the baby’s mouth to see how feeding mechanics may be affected.
The goal is not simply to “find a tie,” but to understand why feeding feels difficult and what support may help improve it.
Treatment for Tongue- & Lip-Ties in Babies
Treatment depends on how significantly feeding is being affected. In some cases, feeding improves with support. In other cases, you and your baby may continue to struggle despite support.
When feeding difficulties remain ongoing, a healthcare provider may discuss a procedure to release the tissue. The decision is usually based on the overall feeding picture.
Feeding & Lactation Support
In some babies, feeding improves significantly with small adjustments to positioning, latch technique, bottle-feeding approach (like paced bottle feeding), or milk flow management. Sometimes these minor changes alone can make feeding far more comfortable and effective for both baby and mom.
This is one reason feeding support should never be skipped. Feeding difficulties are not always caused purely by anatomy, and sometimes feeding guidance can make a surprisingly big difference.
When a Tongue-/Lip-Tie Release May Be Considered
In some babies, feeding difficulties can continue despite support. When tongue movement appears significantly restricted and feeding is clearly affected, healthcare providers may discuss a procedure called a frenotomy or frenectomy.
A frenotomy is a quick procedure where the tight piece of tissue under the tongue or upper lip is carefully cut to release the tightness to improve movement. In young babies, the procedure is usually very fast and is often performed without general anaesthetic. The goal is to improve tongue mobility and feeding function, not simply to change how the frenulum looks.
The decision to proceed should always be based on factors such as ongoing maternal pain, poor milk transfer, feeding efficiency, weight gain concerns, latch difficulties, and how significantly feeding is affecting both baby and parents overall.
At Mums & Bums, feeding assessments focus on the full feeding experience before discussing whether further assessment or treatment may be appropriate. If we feel a tongue- or lip-tie may require release after the initial assessment, we will refer your baby for a second assessment by an experienced provider. If a procedure is recommended, it can often be performed on the same day.
What Happens if a Tongue- or Lip-Tie Is Left Untreated?
This is often one of the biggest questions parents ask during feeding assessments, especially when deciding whether treatment is necessary. In some children and adults, tongue- or lip-ties can contribute to ongoing functional difficulties later on. Some of these issues can include:
Ongoing Feeding Difficulties
In some babies, ongoing feeding difficulties related to tongue- or lip-ties may continue to affect breastfeeding comfort, feeding efficiency, and overall feeding experience. If the issue is severe, it can lead to eventual weight gain slowing, reduced milk supply, and occasionally nipple wounds that may require special care.
Speech & Oral Development Concerns
As children grow, the tongue becomes important for speech, oral coordination, and swallowing.
Some children with significant tongue restriction may later struggle with certain speech sounds or articulation, particularly sounds that require the tongue to lift or move freely against the roof of the mouth.
This is one area where parents often hear very strong opinions. The reality is usually more nuanced. Research into tongue-ties and long-term speech effects is still evolving, and not every child with a tongue-tie develops speech problems later on.
Dental & Oral Health Concerns
In some children, a tongue- or lip-tie may later be associated with challenges like difficulty cleaning around certain teeth properly, gaps between the upper front teeth, or oral tension. Over time, this can sometimes contribute to oral hygiene difficulties or dental concerns.
Like many aspects of tongue and lip-ties, some children never experience any meaningful dental or oral issues, while others may continue to notice functional limitations as they grow older.
Tongue-Ties in Older Children & Adults
Some people only discover they have a tongue-tie much later in childhood or adulthood.
Adults with significant tongue restriction can have ongoing oral tension, difficulty sticking the tongue out fully, jaw tightness, speech concerns, or a constant feeling of tightness under the tongue. Some also report teeth grinding, tension headaches, jaw fatigue, neck tension, or difficulty comfortably resting the tongue against the roof of the mouth.
Others may notice challenges with certain oral movements, eating particular foods, licking ice cream properly, or maintaining oral posture comfortably for long periods, which is admittedly a surprisingly common way adults realise their tongue does not move as freely as other people’s.
When to Seek Help for Feeding Problems
Breastfeeding and bottle feeding can take time to learn, especially in the early weeks. But feeding should gradually start feeling more comfortable over time and not increasingly painful or exhausting.
If feeding continues to feel difficult despite trying different feeding approaches, it may be worth having your baby assessed.
At Mums & Bums in Centurion, we offer baby feeding assessments for breastfeeding and bottle-feeding difficulties. Assessments focus on the full feeding picture to help determine whether feeding support, monitoring, or further tongue-tie evaluation may be needed.
Parents are often told to “just keep trying,” but poor feeding experiences deserve proper support. You do not need to wait until feeding feels unbearable before asking for help.
Final Thoughts
Tongue and lip-ties can sometimes play a role in feeding difficulties, but they are only one part of the issue. The most important thing is not whether it looks dramatic. It is whether feeding is working comfortably and effectively for you.
If feeding feels painful or constantly difficult, trust that instinct. A good feeding assessment can often provide reassurance and support, whether a tongue-tie is involved or not.
And for the record, if you have Googled “why does my baby click while feeding” at 3 am while holding a cold cup of coffee, you are very much not alone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tongue- & Lip-Ties
What are the signs of tongue-tie in babies?
Some babies with tongue-ties may struggle with painful latch, clicking during feeds, long feeding sessions, poor suction, swallowing air, leaking milk, or slow weight gain. Not every baby will have the same symptoms.
Can a tongue-tie cause painful breastfeeding?
Yes. Some babies with tongue-ties struggle to maintain a deep latch, which can lead to nipple pain, cracked nipples, and stressful feeds. However, not all breastfeeding pain is caused by tongue-tie.
Can bottle-fed babies have tongue-tie problems?
Yes. Bottle-fed babies may also struggle with suction, clicking, leaking milk, swallowing air, or tiring during feeds if tongue movement is restricted.
Why does my baby click while feeding?
Clicking usually happens when suction breaks during feeding. Tongue- or lip-ties can sometimes contribute, but clicking can also happen with shallow latch, fast milk flow, positioning difficulties, or normal newborn feeding coordination.
Do all tongue-ties need treatment?
No. Some babies feed perfectly well despite having a visible tongue-tie. Treatment decisions should be based on feeding symptoms and function rather than appearance alone.
Can a tongue-tie affect speech later on?
Some children with significant tongue restriction may later develop speech or articulation difficulties. However, not all children with tongue-ties experience speech problems.
Can lip-ties cause feeding problems?
Some lip-ties may contribute to difficulty maintaining a seal during feeding, which can lead to leaking milk, swallowing air, or clicking during feeds. Not all visible lip-ties cause symptoms.
What does a tongue-tie look like?
A tongue-tie may look like a tight or short piece of skin under the tongue. Some babies may have limited tongue movement or a heart-shaped tongue tip. However, feeding symptoms matter more than appearance alone.
Can tongue-ties affect adults, too?
Yes. Some adults with tongue-ties may experience oral tension, speech concerns, or reduced tongue mobility, while others have no symptoms at all.
When should I seek help for breastfeeding pain?
If breastfeeding remains painful, your baby struggles to feed comfortably, or feeding feels stressful and exhausting, it is worth seeking feeding support or assessment.
Great info