When the Feeds Still Feel the Same
It's been a few days since the release. You settle in to nurse, brace yourself, and there it is again: the pinch, the clicking, the baby who pops off crying. Maybe someone told you you'd see a difference right away. Now it's 3 a.m. and you're typing "tongue tie release didn't work" into your phone.
First, take a breath. A release changes what your baby's tongue can do. It doesn't instantly change what the tongue knows how to do, and it doesn't fix supply, flow, body tension, or medical issues that can look a lot like a tie. Slow or partial progress is common, and it's usually a reason to look closer, not a final verdict.
At Latched Beginnings in Austin, we look at feeding as a whole picture, because the tongue is only one part of it. Here's what we'd check next, and in what order.
Is It Too Soon to Say It Didn't Work?
Often, yes. The first days after a release tend to be sore, and some babies feed worse before they feed better. They've gained range of motion without the strength or coordination to use it, so the latch can look sloppy and clicking can even get louder for a while. Our guide to the signs a tongue-tie release worked walks through the usual timeline.
It helps to name the pattern you're seeing. "No change yet" at day five is different from "no change at all" at week four, and both differ from "it got better, then slid backward," which has its own causes covered in our post on tongue-tie reattachment after a release.
What Else Could Be Getting in the Way?
Feeding asks the tongue, jaw, body, breathing, and milk supply to work together. When a release doesn't bring relief, one of these is often still out of sync.
The Tongue Is Still Learning
A tongue that was restricted before birth built its movement patterns around that restriction. Learning a new way to lift, cup, and draw milk takes practice, and some babies need hands-on help from an IBCLC or feeding therapist to organize their suck.
Milk Supply and Flow
Weeks of inefficient feeding can lower supply, so a baby who now latches well may still come off hungry. On the other end, a fast letdown can cause gulping, clicking, and popping off that look a lot like a tie.
Body Tension and Positioning
A baby with a tight neck, a favorite side, or a clenched jaw may struggle to open wide and stay latched no matter how free the tongue is. A release doesn't treat torticollis, which is one reason bodywork before and after a release is sometimes part of the plan.
Reflux, Congestion, or Another Medical Piece
A stuffy nose makes it hard to breathe and suck at the same time, and reflux can make a baby wary of feeding. A release doesn't treat reflux disease, allergies, or neurologic differences, so these belong with your pediatrician.
Restriction That Remains
After any release, by any method, some restriction can remain, or healing can tighten the area. This is judged by how the tongue works during a feed, not by how it looks, so it takes a hands-on exam.
What to Track Before Your Follow-Up
Notes turn "it's still not working" into something a provider can act on. For three or four days, jot down:
- How long feeds last and how often your baby eats
- Your pain from 0 to 10 at the start, middle, and end of a feed
- Clicking, milk dribbling from the corners, or popping on and off
- Wet and dirty diapers each day
- Any recent weights, including pre- and post-feed weights
- Bottle volumes and how long each bottle takes, if you're supplementing
- Anything that's even slightly better than before
A short video of a typical feed, filmed from the side, is surprisingly useful, and so is your aftercare plan. If you're triple feeding (nursing, then a bottle, then pumping), keep following your current plan until someone who has watched your baby feed helps you adjust it.
Who to Call First, and What Each One Checks
Start with the provider who did the release. They know exactly what was released and how the area looked that day, so they're best placed to compare. It's always okay to ask for an earlier follow-up.
An IBCLC can watch a full feed, check milk transfer, and build a plan for latch, positioning, and supply. Your pediatrician tracks weight gain, looks for medical pieces like reflux or a tight neck, and can refer you to a bodyworker, speech-language pathologist, or feeding therapist.
Call your pediatrician right away if your baby has fewer than about 6 wet diapers a day after day 5, a fever, unusual sleepiness, trouble breathing, a bluish color, bleeding that won't stop, or is refusing to feed. If you develop a fever or a painful breast lump, call your OB or doctor the same day. These are reasons not to wait for a scheduled visit, not reasons to panic.
Is a Second Release Ever the Answer?
Sometimes, but it should never be the assumption. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises a complete breastfeeding assessment before any treatment for painful or ineffective feeding, and the AAO-HNS expert consensus acknowledges that a release doesn't always relieve breastfeeding problems.
A second release, often called a revision, is considered only when a thorough functional exam shows restriction still limiting how the tongue moves during feeding, and the other pieces above have been looked at too. If the tongue now moves well and the struggle is supply, flow, or coordination, another procedure won't fix it, and it means another round of healing for your baby. Some families need only time and lactation support; others benefit from more.
How Latched Beginnings Helps After a Release in Austin
It's easy to feel you made the wrong call when a release doesn't bring the change you hoped for. You made the best decision you could with what you knew. Now you need someone to look at the whole picture with you.
Dr. Kacie Culotta, DMD, is the only dentist in Austin who holds both a laser certification for tongue-tie releases and a lactation counselor certification. In a 1-on-1 feeding and oral tie consultation, she watches a full feed and checks how the tongue functions, along with supply, positioning, and body tension. Our all-mom team works closely with IBCLCs, pediatricians, bodyworkers, and speech-language pathologists. If another procedure isn't the answer, we'll tell you so. If it is, you'll get a customized aftercare plan and scheduled follow-ups.
If your baby's release was done elsewhere, check in with that provider first. If you'd like another set of eyes after that, we're glad to help. When your baby thrives, you do too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our tongue tie release didn't work. Did we do something wrong?
No. Slow or partial progress after a release is common, and it usually has a reason that can be found. A release changes only one part of feeding, so a re-evaluation in the first few weeks can sort out what's still in the way.
Why is my baby still clicking after a tongue tie release?
Clicking usually means the seal is breaking, which can come from a fast letdown, a shallow latch, fatigue, or a tongue still learning its new range. Many babies click less over the first several weeks. If it hasn't eased by about 3 to 4 weeks, ask for a feed to be observed.
Can a tongue tie release make breastfeeding worse?
For some babies, yes, but it's usually temporary, while soreness settles and the tongue learns to use its new range. Feeds can look messier for several days to about two weeks. Feeding that keeps getting worse, or a baby who refuses to feed, is a reason to call your provider and pediatrician promptly.
Breastfeeding still hurts after the release. What now?
Tell your releasing provider and see an IBCLC who can watch a full feed, because ongoing pain has several possible causes. Damaged nipples can stay tender for a week or more after the latch improves, and vasospasm or infection needs a doctor's diagnosis and sometimes a prescription.
My baby's tongue tie was clipped at the hospital and we're still struggling. Now what?
Contact the provider who did it or your pediatrician, and ask for a full feeding evaluation with an IBCLC, including a functional re-check of the tongue. A release in the first days of life happens before feeding is established, so today's struggles may have another source. Only a hands-on exam can tell whether restriction is still part of it.
How long should I wait before deciding the tongue tie release didn't work?
Ask questions right away, but give the change itself a few weeks, since many babies improve steadily over 2 to 6 weeks as they learn new movement patterns. If you see no progress by about 3 to 4 weeks, things are getting worse, or any red flags appear, contact your provider sooner.
Where can I get a feeding re-evaluation after a tongue-tie release in Austin?
Latched Beginnings, at 1701 Simond Ave, Suite 107A in Austin's Mueller area, offers 1-on-1 feeding and oral tie consultations; call (512) 814-7480. We see families from across Austin, East Austin, North Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, and Georgetown.
Call to Action
If you're worried your baby's tongue tie release didn't work, you don't have to keep guessing at every feed. Start with your releasing provider, and if you'd like a thorough, function-first second look, schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with Dr. Kacie and our team. We'll watch a full feed and help you plan the next step. Trust your instincts. We're here to guide you every step of the way.
