結舌患兒急需幫助

Services for babies with breastfeeding problems because of tongue tie need to be improved， a parenting charity says.

The condition， which restricts the movement of the tongue， can be treated with a simple procedure.

The NCT said services around the UK were too patchy， and more awareness was needed.

However， midwives' leaders said the procedure should only be done if feeding problems were definitely being caused as a result.

Tongue tie happens when the fold of the skin that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is shorter than usual.

The congenital condition， which affects around 3% of babies， can lead to problems for them \"latching on\" to their mother.

\"POOR PROVISION\"

Some families end up paying more than ￡100 for private treatment or abandoning breastfeeding.

NCT chief executive Belinda Phipps said: \"Mothers who contact our helpline about this are desperate and usually in tears.

\"Everyone who comes into contact with a new mum needs to be aware of tongue tie as a possibility if there are feeding problems.

\"And we would like to see a service for tongue-tie treatment available at every maternity unit in the country.\"

The NCT is taking up with government ministers what it calls the problem of poor provision.

The minister for maternity and child health， Dan Poulter， said: \"We always recommend that mothers breastfeed their children where possible as it has huge health benefits.

\"We know tongue tie can make feeding difficult， and health professionals should discuss options with parents and agree the most appropriate form of treatment.\"

NO SAFETY CONCERNS

Tongue tie varies in severity. If a procedure is needed， the fold of the skin is cut in what is known as division.

The healthcare watchdog NICE endorsed the procedure in 2005， saying there were no major safety concerns. It is often done by surgeons but other healthcare professionals can perform it.

Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that more than 5，000 babies in England had tongue-tie division in hospital last year. Others may have had the procedure in community settings.

Mervyn Griffiths， a consultant paediatric surgeon at Southampton Children's Hospital， has led training and research on tongue-tie division.

He said: \"Small babies feel pain differently from older ones. The smell of mum and milk is more important than painkillers for them.

\"We know from our studies that the average time between dividing the tongue tie and a baby feeding silently is about 15 to 20 seconds. Complications are very， very rare.\"

婦產慈善機構指出，結舌患兒吮乳困難急需接受專門服務。結舌指由于舌系帶短縮，舌尖受其牽絆，以致舌頭轉動伸縮不靈，妨礙吮乳。英國國家分娩聯合會指出，目前英國3%嬰兒患有結舌，而英國的相關服務過于零散，公眾意識不足，大多家庭需花費100英鎊接受私人服務甚至放棄母乳喂養。聯合會旨在增強公眾對結舌的意識并最終在全國所有婦產科提供針對結舌的服務。英國婦女及兒童健康部長丹·普爾特指出，國家大力提倡母乳喂養，關于結舌對母乳喂養的危害，醫學專家應與家長共同討論并找到恰當的治療方案。2005年，英國國家臨床醫學研究所批準切割舌系帶的手術，外科醫生及其他醫學人員皆可操刀。與手術之痛相比，能夠接受母乳喂養對于嬰兒來說更加重要，而且手術并發癥的可能極低。

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26199591]