Hi everyone, my baby is now 10 months old - time truly flies! When he was first born, he didn't latch even though I felt like we tried to do everything right. My baby boy was placed on my chest for skin to skin for three uninterrupted hours, but he never went to latch. We struggled with feeding in those early days and saw multiple lactation consultants both in hospital and once we were home. Feeding was incredibly painful. At one of my private midwife appointments we were told he had an upper lip tie and that it would likely get worse and that he would struggle to ever feed properly or gain weight. I won't lie hearing this really stressed us. Part of me wondered, what if they were right? Without anyone properly assessing the inside of his mouth, we were given a number to have his upper lip lasered and told that this woukd fix everything. Instead my husband and I continued taking him to Simon and we worked gently on his body tension (caused from the way he came out of the birth canal) and supporting him to latch more effectively. Interestingly Simon was never concerned about his upper lip and after learning more about this, what my son had began to seem very normal. As weeks went on, we began to learn more about one another and I stopped pressuring myself and my baby to feed in a cetain way or hold a certain position. When I let go of these expectations, he latched and he figured it out on his own. No cutting, no lasering just time and support. Now ten months later and my baby boy is thriving and we're pretty much breastfeeding pros 🤍

A lip blister (sometimes called a “sucking blister”) is a small bubble, thickened patch, or callus that can form on the upper or lower lip. Many parents are told this means baby has a “strong suck.”Sometimes that’s true. But often, as we discuss - it’s actually a sign that baby is working harder than they need to in order to maintain suction. So rather than being a sign of “strength,” it’s often a sign of compensation. Not every blister means there is tongue restriction — but when paired with other feeding challenges, it can give helpful clues about latch mechanics. What parents may notice: - A small blister, bubble, or white callused area on the upper lip - A thickened strip across the centre of the lip - Lips curling inward during feeds instead of flanging outward - Clicking sounds while feeding - Frequent loss of suction - Milk leaking from the sides of the mouth - Baby tiring quickly or feeding for long periods What it can look like: - A clear fluid-filled bubble that comes and goes - A dry, peeling or thickened patch - A lip that folds under rather than staying relaxed and outward Why this can matter: Feeding should be rhythmic and efficient. If baby cannot maintain a stable seal with the lips and tongue, they may compensate by: - Increasing pressure through the lips - Using more jaw effort - Clamping or sliding on the nipple - Repeatedly breaking and re-establishing suction Over time, this extra friction can create a blister or callus.

I thought I'd start sharing some images to help parents visualise some of the presentations that Simon and I talk in the Classroom videos. Image 1: UPPER LIP TIE Tongue ties and tight tongue patterns are often seen alongside upper lip ties, as both involve connective tissue along the midline that develops during early pregnancy. An upper lip tie is when the small piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gum (called the frenulum) is tighter, thicker, or positioned lower than usual. In some babies, this tissue is soft and stretchy. In others, it can look more prominent, thicker, or attach lower down toward the edge of the gum line. Sometimes it appears as: - A tight or thin upper lip that doesn’t roll outward easily - A visible band of tissue when you gently lift the lip - A lip that looks tucked under instead of flanged outward - A small gap between the top front gums that persists - Blanching (whitening) of the tissue when the lip is lifted What parents may notice: - Upper lip does not flange outward easily during feeding - Lip looks tight, thin, or pulled upward - Difficulty maintaining a seal on the breast or bottle - Milk leaking from the corners of the mouth This matters because: - A restricted upper lip can affect latch depth and milk transfer - Baby may compensate with jaw or tongue effort This may lead to: - Shallow latch - Increased air intake and swallowing air which can lead to colic etc - Baby working harder with jaw or tongue to compensate - Maternal nipple discomfort - Less efficient milk transfer The goal is to help make sure the tongue can move freely enough so that even lip ties don't need to inhibit feeding. When all the layers of restriction are released from under the tongue, from the inner and outer cranium, the dura (layers around the brain and spinal cord) and the spine - a lip tie is also less likely to need cutting. Its imperative though, that the root cause driving the connective tissue issues is addressed - which is typically a methylation issue and the specific genes which guide how the midline forms. When stress or low energy affects that delicate timing, tissues develop differently. Likewise when nutrients are low, or methylation pathways are not working well - how cells are made can be less precise.

Hey everyone, I feel so informed and empowered with your content about methylation! I have already been told from my obstetrician and midwife to take aspirin and calcium tablets for my next pregnancy to prevent pre eclampsia. It would be interesting to gauge your thoughts and hopefully help other mummas!

This is a calm, supportive space to understand tongue tie and feel more confident in your next steps. If you’re comfortable, introduce yourself in My Child’s Journey with: 1️⃣ Your child’s age (or due date) 2️⃣ What brought you here 3️⃣ Where you’re at right now No pressure to post straight away, many parents like to read first, and that’s completely okay. We’re glad you’re here 🤍