As a concerned parent who has personally experienced the challenges and frustrations of undiagnosed tongue tie in my children, I am starting this petition to advocate for mandatory screenings of all newborns for tongue tie after birth.

My son suffered from an undiagnosed tongue tie, which went unnoticed by healthcare professionals because my son was feeding and putting on weight despite the other symptoms he had and numerous times I mentioned it. After enduring 16 weeks of uncertainty, including cutting out dairy from my diet due to potential allergies, blood in his stool, excessive wind, and constant dribbling, I went back again to the dr who finally listened. We were referred but I was told that after 12 weeks they wouldn't cut his tie on the NHS because he was putting on weight, even though he could not take a bottle which meant I could not leave him as I was breastfeeding. The referral would also take anywhere from 2 months which left me with no choice but to seek private medical assistance. It was only then that we discovered the underlying cause - a significant tongue tie.

Unfortunately, when I had my daughter it was at the height of covid-19 and it was harder to get help and the services usually provided for parents were not available. For 6 months we struggled with her; she was always very sick, had explosive poo's, I struggled with mastitis and misshapen nipples. She was colicky and no one could give us answers but we were told to just keep going. After seeing someone post about the symptoms their son had and that he had CMPA I initially believed she had a dairy allergy however, upon further investigation 3 years later after having my son and self-examination, we discovered that she too has a significant tongue tie.

This personal experience prompted me to delve deeper into the issue and I soon learned that both my brother and father also have untreated tongue ties. This revelation made me realise how prevalent this condition may be within our society.

Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition where the tissue connecting the underside of the baby's tongue to their mouth is unusually short or tight. This restricts proper movement of the tongue and can lead to various complications such as difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding effectively, speech impediments later in life, dental issues like tooth decay or misalignment, digestive problems due to inadequate chewing or swallowing patterns among others.

Early detection is crucial for timely intervention and appropriate treatment options such as frenotomy (a simple procedure involving releasing or loosening the tissue). However, without routine screenings at birth or shortly thereafter by trained healthcare professionals such as pediatricians or lactation consultants who are knowledgeable about tongue tie, many cases go undiagnosed.

By implementing mandatory screenings for tongue tie in all newborns, we can ensure early detection and timely intervention. This will significantly reduce the physical and emotional distress faced by parents and babies alike, while also preventing potential long-term consequences associated with untreated tongue tie.

I urge healthcare authorities to recognise the importance of this issue and take immediate action to implement routine screenings for tongue tie in all newborns. Let us prioritise the well-being of our children by ensuring that no baby goes undiagnosed or suffers unnecessarily due to a lack of awareness or attention to this common condition.

Together, let's make a difference for future generations by advocating for comprehensive care and support for all infants. Sign this petition today to demand mandatory screenings for tongue tie in newborns.