Experiences of Breastfeeding Mothers of Infants With Ankyloglossia: A Qualitative Study

Background: Ankyloglossia, or limited tongue mobility due to a restrictive sublingual frenulum, can complicate breastfeeding. Treatment typically involves a frenotomy, a procedure that cuts the restrictive tissue parallel to the tongue.Research Aim: To describe the experiences of breastfeeding mothers with children affected by ankyloglossia, before any treatment for the condition.Method: This was a qualitative descriptive study. Using purposive sampling, 20 participants were recruited. Data were collected through individualized semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis with ATLAS.ti computer software.Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) Breastfeeding: An idyllic and intuitive process; (2) When idyllic becomes problematic; (3) Looking for a solution; and (4) Recommendations based on experience. During pregnancy, the participants perceived breastfeeding as an idealized process. After delivery, participants described physical and emotional difficulties with breastfeeding that they attributed to ankyloglossia. Although the care received by midwives in the hospital was satisfactory, the participants described shortcomings, including the lack of breastfeeding training for healthcare professionals and the lack of specialized physiotherapists.Conclusions: This study shows the difficulties experienced by breastfeeding mothers of children with ankyloglossia prior to treatment, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach. Despite satisfaction with midwifery care, shortcomings in the hospital were described. Antecedentes: La anquiloglosia, o movilidad limitada de la lengua debido a un frenillo sublingual restrictivo, puede complicar la lactancia materna. El tratamiento t & iacute;picamente implica una frenotom & iacute;a, un procedimiento que corta el tejido restrictivo paralelo a la lengua.Objetivo de la investigaci & oacute;n: Describir las experiencias de las madres lactantes con hijos afectados por anquiloglosia, antes de cualquier tratamiento para la condici & oacute;n.M & eacute;todo: Este es un estudio descriptivo cualitativo. Se reclutaron 20 participantes mediante muestreo intencional. Los datos se recolectaron a trav & eacute;s de entrevistas semiestructuradas individualizadas. Las entrevistas fueron grabadas y transcritas textualmente. Se utiliz & oacute; el an & aacute;lisis tem & aacute;tico para el an & aacute;lisis de datos con el software ATLAS.ti.Resultados: Se identificaron cuatro temas principales: 1. Lactancia: un proceso id & iacute;lico e intuitivo; 2. Cuando lo id & iacute;lico se convierte en problem & aacute;tico; 3. Buscando una soluci & oacute;n; y 4. Recomendaciones basadas en la experiencia. La lactancia se idealiza cuando una mujer est & aacute; embarazada. Despu & eacute;s del parto, la anquiloglosia caus & oacute; problemas f & iacute;sicos y emocionales en las madres lactantes. Aunque la atenci & oacute;n recibida por parte de las parteras en el hospital fue satisfactoria, las participantes mostraron deficiencias, como la falta de fisioterapeutas especializados en el sistema.Conclusiones: Este estudio destaca las dificultades experimentadas por las madres lactantes de ni & ntilde;os con anquiloglosia, enfatizando la importancia de un enfoque integral en la atenci & oacute;n sanitaria. A pesar de la satisfacci & oacute;n con la atenci & oacute;n de las parteras, se identificaron deficiencias en el sistema de salud, como la falta de fisioterapeutas especializados en lactancia. Back translation by Carmela K. Baeza, MD, IBCLC